diff --git a/src/com/android/settings/wifi/tether/WifiTetherSettings.java b/src/com/android/settings/wifi/tether/WifiTetherSettings.java
index 4ce59b9b53f..88d601a082b 100644
--- a/src/com/android/settings/wifi/tether/WifiTetherSettings.java
+++ b/src/com/android/settings/wifi/tether/WifiTetherSettings.java
@@ -84,8 +84,10 @@ public class WifiTetherSettings extends RestrictedDashboardFragment
     WifiTetherSSIDPreferenceController mSSIDPreferenceController;
     @VisibleForTesting
     WifiTetherPasswordPreferenceController mPasswordPreferenceController;
-    private WifiTetherSecurityPreferenceController mSecurityPreferenceController;
-    private WifiTetherMaximizeCompatibilityPreferenceController mMaxCompatibilityPrefController;
+    @VisibleForTesting
+    WifiTetherSecurityPreferenceController mSecurityPreferenceController;
+    @VisibleForTesting
+    WifiTetherMaximizeCompatibilityPreferenceController mMaxCompatibilityPrefController;
     @VisibleForTesting
     WifiTetherAutoOffPreferenceController mWifiTetherAutoOffPreferenceController;
 
@@ -276,15 +278,16 @@ public class WifiTetherSettings extends RestrictedDashboardFragment
     SoftApConfiguration buildNewConfig() {
         SoftApConfiguration currentConfig = mWifiTetherViewModel.getSoftApConfiguration();
         SoftApConfiguration.Builder configBuilder = new SoftApConfiguration.Builder(currentConfig);
-        int securityType = (mWifiTetherViewModel.isSpeedFeatureAvailable())
-                ? currentConfig.getSecurityType()
-                : mSecurityPreferenceController.getSecurityType();
         configBuilder.setSsid(mSSIDPreferenceController.getSSID());
-        if (securityType != SoftApConfiguration.SECURITY_TYPE_OPEN) {
-            configBuilder.setPassphrase(
-                    mPasswordPreferenceController.getPasswordValidated(securityType),
-                    securityType);
-        }
+        int securityType =
+                mWifiTetherViewModel.isSpeedFeatureAvailable()
+                        ? currentConfig.getSecurityType()
+                        : mSecurityPreferenceController.getSecurityType();
+        String passphrase =
+                securityType == SoftApConfiguration.SECURITY_TYPE_OPEN
+                        ? null
+                        : mPasswordPreferenceController.getPasswordValidated(securityType);
+        configBuilder.setPassphrase(passphrase, securityType);
         if (!mWifiTetherViewModel.isSpeedFeatureAvailable()) {
             mMaxCompatibilityPrefController.setupMaximizeCompatibility(configBuilder);
         }
diff --git a/tests/robotests/src/com/android/settings/wifi/tether/WifiTetherSettingsTest.java b/tests/robotests/src/com/android/settings/wifi/tether/WifiTetherSettingsTest.java
index fe663abbc28..5005f4c9d5a 100644
--- a/tests/robotests/src/com/android/settings/wifi/tether/WifiTetherSettingsTest.java
+++ b/tests/robotests/src/com/android/settings/wifi/tether/WifiTetherSettingsTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package com.android.settings.wifi.tether;
 
+import static android.net.wifi.SoftApConfiguration.SECURITY_TYPE_OPEN;
 import static android.net.wifi.SoftApConfiguration.SECURITY_TYPE_WPA3_SAE;
 import static android.view.View.INVISIBLE;
 import static android.view.View.VISIBLE;
@@ -125,9 +126,13 @@ public class WifiTetherSettingsTest {
     @Mock
     private WifiTetherSSIDPreferenceController mSSIDPreferenceController;
     @Mock
+    private WifiTetherSecurityPreferenceController mSecurityPreferenceController;
+    @Mock
     private WifiTetherPasswordPreferenceController mPasswordPreferenceController;
     @Mock
     private WifiTetherAutoOffPreferenceController mWifiTetherAutoOffPreferenceController;
+    @Mock
+    private WifiTetherMaximizeCompatibilityPreferenceController mMaxCompatibilityPrefController;
 
     private WifiTetherSettings mSettings;
 
@@ -156,10 +161,13 @@ public class WifiTetherSettingsTest {
         mSettings.mMainSwitchBar = mMainSwitchBar;
         mSettings.mSSIDPreferenceController = mSSIDPreferenceController;
         when(mSSIDPreferenceController.getSSID()).thenReturn(SSID);
+        mSettings.mSecurityPreferenceController = mSecurityPreferenceController;
+        when(mSecurityPreferenceController.getSecurityType()).thenReturn(SECURITY_TYPE_WPA3_SAE);
         mSettings.mPasswordPreferenceController = mPasswordPreferenceController;
         when(mPasswordPreferenceController.getPasswordValidated(anyInt())).thenReturn(PASSWORD);
         mSettings.mWifiTetherAutoOffPreferenceController = mWifiTetherAutoOffPreferenceController;
         when(mWifiTetherAutoOffPreferenceController.isEnabled()).thenReturn(true);
+        mSettings.mMaxCompatibilityPrefController = mMaxCompatibilityPrefController;
         mSettings.mWifiTetherViewModel = mWifiTetherViewModel;
         when(mSettings.findPreference(KEY_WIFI_HOTSPOT_SECURITY)).thenReturn(mWifiHotspotSecurity);
         when(mSettings.findPreference(KEY_WIFI_HOTSPOT_SPEED)).thenReturn(mWifiHotspotSpeed);
@@ -359,6 +367,23 @@ public class WifiTetherSettingsTest {
         assertThat(newConfig.getBand()).isEqualTo(currentConfig.getBand());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void buildNewConfig_securityTypeChangeToOpen_setSecurityTypeCorrectly() {
+        SoftApConfiguration currentConfig = new SoftApConfiguration.Builder()
+                .setPassphrase(PASSWORD, SECURITY_TYPE_WPA3_SAE)
+                .setBand(BAND_2GHZ_5GHZ_6GHZ)
+                .build();
+        when(mWifiTetherViewModel.getSoftApConfiguration()).thenReturn(currentConfig);
+        when(mWifiTetherViewModel.isSpeedFeatureAvailable()).thenReturn(false);
+        doNothing().when(mMaxCompatibilityPrefController)
+                .setupMaximizeCompatibility(any(SoftApConfiguration.Builder.class));
+
+        when(mSecurityPreferenceController.getSecurityType()).thenReturn(SECURITY_TYPE_OPEN);
+        SoftApConfiguration newConfig = mSettings.buildNewConfig();
+
+        assertThat(newConfig.getSecurityType()).isEqualTo(SECURITY_TYPE_OPEN);
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void onRestartingChanged_restartingFalse_setLoadingFalse() {
         doNothing().when(mSettings).setLoading(anyBoolean(), anyBoolean());