diff --git a/src/defines.h b/src/defines.h
index 8167589..f43ea4d 100644
--- a/src/defines.h
+++ b/src/defines.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifndef DEFAULT_HOSTNAME
-  #define DEFAULT_HOSTNAME "opentherm"
+  #define DEFAULT_HOSTNAME ""
 #endif
 
 #ifndef DEFAULT_AP_SSID
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifndef DEFAULT_MQTT_PREFIX
-  #define DEFAULT_MQTT_PREFIX "opentherm"
+  #define DEFAULT_MQTT_PREFIX ""
 #endif
 
 #ifndef DEFAULT_OT_IN_GPIO
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 1aa5e8a..b415649 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -102,6 +102,12 @@ void setup() {
       break;
   }
 
+  // generate hostname if it is empty
+  if (!strlen(networkSettings.hostname)) {
+    strcpy(networkSettings.hostname, getChipId("otgateway-").c_str());
+    fsNetworkSettings.update();
+  }
+
   network = (new NetworkMgr)
     ->setHostname(networkSettings.hostname)
     ->setStaCredentials(
@@ -148,6 +154,12 @@ void setup() {
       break;
   }
 
+  // generate mqtt prefix if it is empty
+  if (!strlen(settings.mqtt.prefix)) {
+    strcpy(settings.mqtt.prefix, getChipId("otgateway_").c_str());
+    fsSettings.update();
+  }
+
   // Logs settings
   if (!settings.system.serial.enabled) {
     Serial.end();
diff --git a/src/utils.h b/src/utils.h
index 4a108da..51ccae1 100644
--- a/src/utils.h
+++ b/src/utils.h
@@ -1,5 +1,37 @@
 #include <Arduino.h>
 
+String getChipId(const char* prefix = nullptr, const char* suffix = nullptr) {
+  String chipId;
+  chipId.reserve(
+    6
+    + (prefix != nullptr ? strlen(prefix) : 0)
+    + (suffix != nullptr ? strlen(suffix) : 0)
+  );
+  
+  if (prefix != nullptr) {
+    chipId.concat(prefix);
+  }
+
+  uint32_t cid = 0;
+  #if defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266)
+  cid = ESP.getChipId();
+  #elif defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32)
+  // https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/blob/master/libraries/ESP32/examples/ChipID/GetChipID/GetChipID.ino
+  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 17; i = i + 8) {
+    cid |= ((ESP.getEfuseMac() >> (40 - i)) & 0xff) << i;
+  }
+  #endif
+
+  chipId += String(cid, HEX);
+
+  if (suffix != nullptr) {
+    chipId.concat(suffix);
+  }
+
+  chipId.trim();
+  return chipId;
+}
+
 bool isLeapYear(short year) {
   if (year % 4 != 0) {
     return false;