diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
index 9c83e9a4299b030786d95df4b79c68cb3e1a5551..29527e8dcced72e68228b44bf2b2f5c54bb7fb25 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
@@ -3648,7 +3648,7 @@ void ath6kl_cfg80211_vif_cleanup(struct ath6kl_vif *vif)
 		kfree(mc_filter);
 	}
 
-	unregister_netdevice(vif->ndev);
+	cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(vif->ndev);
 
 	ar->num_vif--;
 }
@@ -3821,7 +3821,7 @@ struct wireless_dev *ath6kl_interface_add(struct ath6kl *ar, const char *name,
 
 	netdev_set_default_ethtool_ops(ndev, &ath6kl_ethtool_ops);
 
-	if (register_netdevice(ndev))
+	if (cfg80211_register_netdevice(ndev))
 		goto err;
 
 	ar->avail_idx_map &= ~BIT(fw_vif_idx);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/wil6210/netdev.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/wil6210/netdev.c
index 07b4a252a23c9ddfbdd1392a63769935fe029a58..472fe804203d22faeefb714d93bfc3879945fe7e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/wil6210/netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/wil6210/netdev.c
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ int wil_vif_add(struct wil6210_priv *wil, struct wil6210_vif *vif)
 		if (rc)
 			return rc;
 	}
-	rc = register_netdevice(ndev);
+	rc = cfg80211_register_netdevice(ndev);
 	if (rc < 0) {
 		dev_err(&ndev->dev, "Failed to register netdev: %d\n", rc);
 		if (any_active && vif->mid != 0)
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ void wil_vif_remove(struct wil6210_priv *wil, u8 mid)
 	/* during unregister_netdevice cfg80211_leave may perform operations
 	 * such as stop AP, disconnect, so we only clear the VIF afterwards
 	 */
-	unregister_netdevice(ndev);
+	cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(ndev);
 
 	if (any_active && vif->mid != 0)
 		wmi_port_delete(wil, vif->mid);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmfmac/core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmfmac/core.c
index 3dd28f5fef19ebc233bc59b7cd6c890fee7fa574..6cf308d5934c91a020f12f3fbf53451cdf2e6c59 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmfmac/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmfmac/core.c
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ int brcmf_net_attach(struct brcmf_if *ifp, bool rtnl_locked)
 	INIT_WORK(&ifp->ndoffload_work, _brcmf_update_ndtable);
 
 	if (rtnl_locked)
-		err = register_netdevice(ndev);
+		err = cfg80211_register_netdevice(ndev);
 	else
 		err = register_netdev(ndev);
 	if (err != 0) {
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ void brcmf_net_detach(struct net_device *ndev, bool rtnl_locked)
 {
 	if (ndev->reg_state == NETREG_REGISTERED) {
 		if (rtnl_locked)
-			unregister_netdevice(ndev);
+			cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(ndev);
 		else
 			unregister_netdev(ndev);
 	} else {
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ int brcmf_net_mon_attach(struct brcmf_if *ifp)
 	ndev = ifp->ndev;
 	ndev->netdev_ops = &brcmf_netdev_ops_mon;
 
-	err = register_netdevice(ndev);
+	err = cfg80211_register_netdevice(ndev);
 	if (err)
 		bphy_err(drvr, "Failed to register %s device\n", ndev->name);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwifiex/cfg80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwifiex/cfg80211.c
index a6b9dc6700b1429284728d3196149e2c9096b8b7..15e1cee7f465d3fb9377fe371d1a2f5972f68f5d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwifiex/cfg80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwifiex/cfg80211.c
@@ -3081,7 +3081,7 @@ struct wireless_dev *mwifiex_add_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 	mutex_init(&priv->async_mutex);
 
 	/* Register network device */
-	if (register_netdevice(dev)) {
+	if (cfg80211_register_netdevice(dev)) {
 		mwifiex_dbg(adapter, ERROR, "cannot register network device\n");
 		ret = -EFAULT;
 		goto err_reg_netdev;
@@ -3160,7 +3160,7 @@ int mwifiex_del_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct wireless_dev *wdev)
 		netif_carrier_off(priv->netdev);
 
 	if (wdev->netdev->reg_state == NETREG_REGISTERED)
-		unregister_netdevice(wdev->netdev);
+		cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(wdev->netdev);
 
 	if (priv->dfs_cac_workqueue) {
 		flush_workqueue(priv->dfs_cac_workqueue);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/cfg80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/cfg80211.c
index e3dd205cbbe5721655c67062ed3d46e15ca45a15..96973ec7bd9ac2520fa8281c9107f481f16e1dc2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/cfg80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/cfg80211.c
@@ -1538,7 +1538,7 @@ static int del_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct wireless_dev *wdev)
 		wilc_wfi_deinit_mon_interface(wl, true);
 	vif = netdev_priv(wdev->netdev);
 	cfg80211_stop_iface(wiphy, wdev, GFP_KERNEL);
-	unregister_netdevice(vif->ndev);
+	cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(vif->ndev);
 	vif->monitor_flag = 0;
 
 	wilc_set_operation_mode(vif, 0, 0, 0);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/mon.c b/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/mon.c
index b5a1b65c087cab98e190145d56a569b43a92bfd1..6bd63934c2d8447fe8e6cbc1245c1398dfd0cd3a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/mon.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/mon.c
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ struct net_device *wilc_wfi_init_mon_interface(struct wilc *wl,
 	wl->monitor_dev->netdev_ops = &wilc_wfi_netdev_ops;
 	wl->monitor_dev->needs_free_netdev = true;
 
-	if (register_netdevice(wl->monitor_dev)) {
+	if (cfg80211_register_netdevice(wl->monitor_dev)) {
 		netdev_err(real_dev, "register_netdevice failed\n");
 		free_netdev(wl->monitor_dev);
 		return NULL;
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ void wilc_wfi_deinit_mon_interface(struct wilc *wl, bool rtnl_locked)
 		return;
 
 	if (rtnl_locked)
-		unregister_netdevice(wl->monitor_dev);
+		cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(wl->monitor_dev);
 	else
 		unregister_netdev(wl->monitor_dev);
 	wl->monitor_dev = NULL;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/netdev.c b/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/netdev.c
index 2a1fbbdd6a4bd454c97b0ccf051262e2516ace12..643cbb155439d583cb9ed0e9f98e7005569b3e83 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/netdev.c
@@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ struct wilc_vif *wilc_netdev_ifc_init(struct wilc *wl, const char *name,
 	vif->priv.dev = ndev;
 
 	if (rtnl_locked)
-		ret = register_netdevice(ndev);
+		ret = cfg80211_register_netdevice(ndev);
 	else
 		ret = register_netdev(ndev);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/cfg80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/cfg80211.c
index 54cdf3ad09d751737579acab8f62d5fb9d1206c2..504b4d0b98c4e90b26b8185eb3f1714faab3d5f6 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/cfg80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/cfg80211.c
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ int qtnf_del_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct wireless_dev *wdev)
 	cancel_work_sync(&vif->high_pri_tx_work);
 
 	if (netdev->reg_state == NETREG_REGISTERED)
-		unregister_netdevice(netdev);
+		cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(netdev);
 
 	if (qtnf_cmd_send_del_intf(vif))
 		pr_err("VIF%u.%u: failed to delete VIF\n", vif->mac->macid,
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ static struct wireless_dev *qtnf_add_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 	if (qtnf_hwcap_is_set(&mac->bus->hw_info, QLINK_HW_CAPAB_HW_BRIDGE)) {
 		ret = qtnf_cmd_netdev_changeupper(vif, vif->netdev->ifindex);
 		if (ret) {
-			unregister_netdevice(vif->netdev);
+			cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(vif->netdev);
 			vif->netdev = NULL;
 			goto error_del_vif;
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/core.c
index ad726bd100ec73afd5c9994415c33ed6f061212c..18964e2a9f28199c26b881b59c88a8643ba0928f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/core.c
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ int qtnf_core_net_attach(struct qtnf_wmac *mac, struct qtnf_vif *vif,
 
 	SET_NETDEV_DEV(dev, wiphy_dev(wiphy));
 
-	ret = register_netdevice(dev);
+	ret = cfg80211_register_netdevice(dev);
 	if (ret) {
 		free_netdev(dev);
 		vif->netdev = NULL;
diff --git a/include/net/cfg80211.h b/include/net/cfg80211.h
index 798f8eb15e00c202747f20e75503353ed262d572..e7703fdbac8db88670fae30fe10e9a4331688645 100644
--- a/include/net/cfg80211.h
+++ b/include/net/cfg80211.h
@@ -5228,6 +5228,7 @@ struct cfg80211_cqm_config;
  *
  * @wiphy: pointer to hardware description
  * @iftype: interface type
+ * @registered: is this wdev already registered with cfg80211
  * @list: (private) Used to collect the interfaces
  * @netdev: (private) Used to reference back to the netdev, may be %NULL
  * @identifier: (private) Identifier used in nl80211 to identify this
@@ -5311,7 +5312,7 @@ struct wireless_dev {
 
 	struct mutex mtx;
 
-	bool use_4addr, is_running;
+	bool use_4addr, is_running, registered;
 
 	u8 address[ETH_ALEN] __aligned(sizeof(u16));
 
@@ -7654,18 +7655,41 @@ u32 cfg80211_calculate_bitrate(struct rate_info *rate);
  * cfg80211_unregister_wdev - remove the given wdev
  * @wdev: struct wireless_dev to remove
  *
- * Call this function only for wdevs that have no netdev assigned,
- * e.g. P2P Devices. It removes the device from the list so that
- * it can no longer be used. It is necessary to call this function
- * even when cfg80211 requests the removal of the interface by
- * calling the del_virtual_intf() callback. The function must also
- * be called when the driver wishes to unregister the wdev, e.g.
- * when the device is unbound from the driver.
+ * This function removes the device so it can no longer be used. It is necessary
+ * to call this function even when cfg80211 requests the removal of the device
+ * by calling the del_virtual_intf() callback. The function must also be called
+ * when the driver wishes to unregister the wdev, e.g. when the hardware device
+ * is unbound from the driver.
  *
  * Requires the RTNL to be held.
  */
 void cfg80211_unregister_wdev(struct wireless_dev *wdev);
 
+/**
+ * cfg80211_register_netdevice - register the given netdev
+ * @dev: the netdev to register
+ *
+ * Note: In contexts coming from cfg80211 callbacks, you must call this rather
+ * than register_netdevice(), unregister_netdev() is impossible as the RTNL is
+ * held. Otherwise, both register_netdevice() and register_netdev() are usable
+ * instead as well.
+ */
+int cfg80211_register_netdevice(struct net_device *dev);
+
+/**
+ * cfg80211_unregister_netdevice - unregister the given netdev
+ * @dev: the netdev to register
+ *
+ * Note: In contexts coming from cfg80211 callbacks, you must call this rather
+ * than unregister_netdevice(), unregister_netdev() is impossible as the RTNL
+ * is held. Otherwise, both unregister_netdevice() and unregister_netdev() are
+ * usable instead as well.
+ */
+static inline void cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(struct net_device *dev)
+{
+	cfg80211_unregister_wdev(dev->ieee80211_ptr);
+}
+
 /**
  * struct cfg80211_ft_event_params - FT Information Elements
  * @ies: FT IEs
diff --git a/net/mac80211/iface.c b/net/mac80211/iface.c
index 1b44690823aa5728df9f516e05f13a14c73be261..fcaf4d20cabf57c4d3c4e288c372abcfa2fd4858 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/iface.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/iface.c
@@ -1976,7 +1976,7 @@ int ieee80211_if_add(struct ieee80211_local *local, const char *name,
 		ndev->min_mtu = 256;
 		ndev->max_mtu = local->hw.max_mtu;
 
-		ret = register_netdevice(ndev);
+		ret = cfg80211_register_netdevice(ndev);
 		if (ret) {
 			free_netdev(ndev);
 			return ret;
@@ -2006,10 +2006,9 @@ void ieee80211_if_remove(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata)
 
 	synchronize_rcu();
 
-	if (sdata->dev) {
-		unregister_netdevice(sdata->dev);
-	} else {
-		cfg80211_unregister_wdev(&sdata->wdev);
+	cfg80211_unregister_wdev(&sdata->wdev);
+
+	if (!sdata->dev) {
 		ieee80211_teardown_sdata(sdata);
 		kfree(sdata);
 	}
diff --git a/net/wireless/core.c b/net/wireless/core.c
index 4b1f35e976e703b0898da0b107fb8ed4ca9c4f16..9e7d1f9620bd39492059be9b8322e5d932963989 100644
--- a/net/wireless/core.c
+++ b/net/wireless/core.c
@@ -1094,7 +1094,8 @@ void cfg80211_cqm_config_free(struct wireless_dev *wdev)
 	wdev->cqm_config = NULL;
 }
 
-static void __cfg80211_unregister_wdev(struct wireless_dev *wdev, bool sync)
+static void _cfg80211_unregister_wdev(struct wireless_dev *wdev,
+				      bool unregister_netdev)
 {
 	struct cfg80211_registered_device *rdev = wiphy_to_rdev(wdev->wiphy);
 
@@ -1104,9 +1105,16 @@ static void __cfg80211_unregister_wdev(struct wireless_dev *wdev, bool sync)
 
 	nl80211_notify_iface(rdev, wdev, NL80211_CMD_DEL_INTERFACE);
 
+	wdev->registered = false;
+
+	if (wdev->netdev) {
+		sysfs_remove_link(&wdev->netdev->dev.kobj, "phy80211");
+		if (unregister_netdev)
+			unregister_netdevice(wdev->netdev);
+	}
+
 	list_del_rcu(&wdev->list);
-	if (sync)
-		synchronize_rcu();
+	synchronize_net();
 	rdev->devlist_generation++;
 
 	cfg80211_mlme_purge_registrations(wdev);
@@ -1131,14 +1139,23 @@ static void __cfg80211_unregister_wdev(struct wireless_dev *wdev, bool sync)
 		flush_work(&wdev->disconnect_wk);
 
 	cfg80211_cqm_config_free(wdev);
+
+	/*
+	 * Ensure that all events have been processed and
+	 * freed.
+	 */
+	cfg80211_process_wdev_events(wdev);
+
+	if (WARN_ON(wdev->current_bss)) {
+		cfg80211_unhold_bss(wdev->current_bss);
+		cfg80211_put_bss(wdev->wiphy, &wdev->current_bss->pub);
+		wdev->current_bss = NULL;
+	}
 }
 
 void cfg80211_unregister_wdev(struct wireless_dev *wdev)
 {
-	if (WARN_ON(wdev->netdev))
-		return;
-
-	__cfg80211_unregister_wdev(wdev, true);
+	_cfg80211_unregister_wdev(wdev, true);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(cfg80211_unregister_wdev);
 
@@ -1290,10 +1307,49 @@ void cfg80211_register_wdev(struct cfg80211_registered_device *rdev,
 		wdev->identifier = ++rdev->wdev_id;
 	list_add_rcu(&wdev->list, &rdev->wiphy.wdev_list);
 	rdev->devlist_generation++;
+	wdev->registered = true;
 
 	nl80211_notify_iface(rdev, wdev, NL80211_CMD_NEW_INTERFACE);
 }
 
+int cfg80211_register_netdevice(struct net_device *dev)
+{
+	struct wireless_dev *wdev = dev->ieee80211_ptr;
+	struct cfg80211_registered_device *rdev;
+	int ret;
+
+	ASSERT_RTNL();
+
+	if (WARN_ON(!wdev))
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	rdev = wiphy_to_rdev(wdev->wiphy);
+
+	lockdep_assert_held(&rdev->wiphy.mtx);
+
+	/* we'll take care of this */
+	wdev->registered = true;
+	ret = register_netdevice(dev);
+	if (ret)
+		goto out;
+
+	if (sysfs_create_link(&dev->dev.kobj, &rdev->wiphy.dev.kobj,
+			      "phy80211")) {
+		pr_err("failed to add phy80211 symlink to netdev!\n");
+		unregister_netdevice(dev);
+		ret = -EINVAL;
+		goto out;
+	}
+
+	cfg80211_register_wdev(rdev, wdev);
+	ret = 0;
+out:
+	if (ret)
+		wdev->registered = false;
+	return ret;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(cfg80211_register_netdevice);
+
 static int cfg80211_netdev_notifier_call(struct notifier_block *nb,
 					 unsigned long state, void *ptr)
 {
@@ -1319,17 +1375,16 @@ static int cfg80211_netdev_notifier_call(struct notifier_block *nb,
 		cfg80211_init_wdev(wdev);
 		break;
 	case NETDEV_REGISTER:
+		if (!wdev->registered)
+			cfg80211_register_wdev(rdev, wdev);
+		break;
+	case NETDEV_UNREGISTER:
 		/*
-		 * NB: cannot take rdev->mtx here because this may be
-		 * called within code protected by it when interfaces
-		 * are added with nl80211.
+		 * It is possible to get NETDEV_UNREGISTER multiple times,
+		 * so check wdev->registered.
 		 */
-		if (sysfs_create_link(&dev->dev.kobj, &rdev->wiphy.dev.kobj,
-				      "phy80211")) {
-			pr_err("failed to add phy80211 symlink to netdev!\n");
-		}
-
-		cfg80211_register_wdev(rdev, wdev);
+		if (wdev->registered)
+			_cfg80211_unregister_wdev(wdev, false);
 		break;
 	case NETDEV_GOING_DOWN:
 		cfg80211_leave(rdev, wdev);
@@ -1401,38 +1456,6 @@ static int cfg80211_netdev_notifier_call(struct notifier_block *nb,
 			wdev->ps = false;
 		}
 		break;
-	case NETDEV_UNREGISTER:
-		/*
-		 * It is possible to get NETDEV_UNREGISTER
-		 * multiple times. To detect that, check
-		 * that the interface is still on the list
-		 * of registered interfaces, and only then
-		 * remove and clean it up.
-		 */
-		if (!list_empty(&wdev->list)) {
-			__cfg80211_unregister_wdev(wdev, false);
-			sysfs_remove_link(&dev->dev.kobj, "phy80211");
-		}
-		/*
-		 * synchronise (so that we won't find this netdev
-		 * from other code any more) and then clear the list
-		 * head so that the above code can safely check for
-		 * !list_empty() to avoid double-cleanup.
-		 */
-		synchronize_rcu();
-		INIT_LIST_HEAD(&wdev->list);
-		/*
-		 * Ensure that all events have been processed and
-		 * freed.
-		 */
-		cfg80211_process_wdev_events(wdev);
-
-		if (WARN_ON(wdev->current_bss)) {
-			cfg80211_unhold_bss(wdev->current_bss);
-			cfg80211_put_bss(wdev->wiphy, &wdev->current_bss->pub);
-			wdev->current_bss = NULL;
-		}
-		break;
 	case NETDEV_PRE_UP:
 		if (!cfg80211_iftype_allowed(wdev->wiphy, wdev->iftype,
 					     wdev->use_4addr, 0))