diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.h
index 8edd6da3c8e7961100ed0ea0417334f834995c3f..33029767a41298ba99df482779fcd21cfba9e8ba 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.h
@@ -428,9 +428,10 @@ struct ath10k {
 	struct cfg80211_chan_def chandef;
 
 	int free_vdev_map;
+	bool promisc;
+	bool monitor;
 	int monitor_vdev_id;
-	bool monitor_enabled;
-	bool monitor_present;
+	bool monitor_started;
 	unsigned int filter_flags;
 	unsigned long dev_flags;
 	u32 dfs_block_radar_events;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/htt_rx.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/htt_rx.c
index f7ecc108ef803d6088159bd07728a3a2fd510af7..f85a3cf6da3103d6f909b80715a1d0763fce7a39 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/htt_rx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/htt_rx.c
@@ -1120,7 +1120,7 @@ static bool ath10k_htt_rx_amsdu_allowed(struct ath10k_htt *htt,
 	if (status != HTT_RX_IND_MPDU_STATUS_OK &&
 	    status != HTT_RX_IND_MPDU_STATUS_TKIP_MIC_ERR &&
 	    status != HTT_RX_IND_MPDU_STATUS_ERR_INV_PEER &&
-	    !htt->ar->monitor_enabled) {
+	    !htt->ar->monitor_started) {
 		ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_HTT,
 			   "htt rx ignoring frame w/ status %d\n",
 			   status);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
index 58ec5a7dfb3415bca97d40cc5df1f15c5f1619fc..d3607caee1daf7e59d0a26d1057458270a0ea32b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
@@ -574,7 +574,20 @@ static int ath10k_vdev_stop(struct ath10k_vif *arvif)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int ath10k_monitor_start(struct ath10k *ar, int vdev_id)
+static bool ath10k_monitor_is_enabled(struct ath10k *ar)
+{
+	lockdep_assert_held(&ar->conf_mutex);
+
+	ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC,
+		   "mac monitor refs: promisc %d monitor %d cac %d\n",
+		   ar->promisc, ar->monitor,
+		   test_bit(ATH10K_CAC_RUNNING, &ar->dev_flags));
+
+	return ar->promisc || ar->monitor ||
+	       test_bit(ATH10K_CAC_RUNNING, &ar->dev_flags);
+}
+
+static int ath10k_monitor_vdev_start(struct ath10k *ar, int vdev_id)
 {
 	struct cfg80211_chan_def *chandef = &ar->chandef;
 	struct ieee80211_channel *channel = chandef->chan;
@@ -583,11 +596,6 @@ static int ath10k_monitor_start(struct ath10k *ar, int vdev_id)
 
 	lockdep_assert_held(&ar->conf_mutex);
 
-	if (!ar->monitor_present) {
-		ath10k_warn("mac monitor stop -- monitor is not present\n");
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
 	arg.vdev_id = vdev_id;
 	arg.channel.freq = channel->center_freq;
 	arg.channel.band_center_freq1 = chandef->center_freq1;
@@ -605,14 +613,14 @@ static int ath10k_monitor_start(struct ath10k *ar, int vdev_id)
 
 	ret = ath10k_wmi_vdev_start(ar, &arg);
 	if (ret) {
-		ath10k_warn("failed to start Monitor vdev %i: %d\n",
+		ath10k_warn("failed to request monitor vdev %i start: %d\n",
 			    vdev_id, ret);
 		return ret;
 	}
 
 	ret = ath10k_vdev_setup_sync(ar);
 	if (ret) {
-		ath10k_warn("failed to syncronise setup for monitor vdev %i: %d\n",
+		ath10k_warn("failed to synchronize setup for monitor vdev %i: %d\n",
 			    vdev_id, ret);
 		return ret;
 	}
@@ -625,8 +633,9 @@ static int ath10k_monitor_start(struct ath10k *ar, int vdev_id)
 	}
 
 	ar->monitor_vdev_id = vdev_id;
-	ar->monitor_enabled = true;
 
+	ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac monitor vdev %i started\n",
+		   ar->monitor_vdev_id);
 	return 0;
 
 vdev_stop:
@@ -638,22 +647,12 @@ static int ath10k_monitor_start(struct ath10k *ar, int vdev_id)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int ath10k_monitor_stop(struct ath10k *ar)
+static int ath10k_monitor_vdev_stop(struct ath10k *ar)
 {
 	int ret = 0;
 
 	lockdep_assert_held(&ar->conf_mutex);
 
-	if (!ar->monitor_present) {
-		ath10k_warn("mac monitor stop -- monitor is not present\n");
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
-	if (!ar->monitor_enabled) {
-		ath10k_warn("mac monitor stop -- monitor is not enabled\n");
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
 	ret = ath10k_wmi_vdev_down(ar, ar->monitor_vdev_id);
 	if (ret)
 		ath10k_warn("failed to put down monitor vdev %i: %d\n",
@@ -661,7 +660,7 @@ static int ath10k_monitor_stop(struct ath10k *ar)
 
 	ret = ath10k_wmi_vdev_stop(ar, ar->monitor_vdev_id);
 	if (ret)
-		ath10k_warn("failed to stop monitor vdev %i: %d\n",
+		ath10k_warn("failed to to request monitor vdev %i stop: %d\n",
 			    ar->monitor_vdev_id, ret);
 
 	ret = ath10k_vdev_setup_sync(ar);
@@ -669,24 +668,20 @@ static int ath10k_monitor_stop(struct ath10k *ar)
 		ath10k_warn("failed to synchronise monitor vdev %i: %d\n",
 			    ar->monitor_vdev_id, ret);
 
-	ar->monitor_enabled = false;
+	ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac monitor vdev %i stopped\n",
+		   ar->monitor_vdev_id);
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int ath10k_monitor_create(struct ath10k *ar)
+static int ath10k_monitor_vdev_create(struct ath10k *ar)
 {
 	int bit, ret = 0;
 
 	lockdep_assert_held(&ar->conf_mutex);
 
-	if (ar->monitor_present) {
-		ath10k_warn("monitor mode already enabled\n");
-		return 0;
-	}
-
 	bit = ffs(ar->free_vdev_map);
 	if (bit == 0) {
-		ath10k_warn("no free vdev slots\n");
+		ath10k_warn("failed to find free vdev id for monitor vdev\n");
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
@@ -697,7 +692,7 @@ static int ath10k_monitor_create(struct ath10k *ar)
 				     WMI_VDEV_TYPE_MONITOR,
 				     0, ar->mac_addr);
 	if (ret) {
-		ath10k_warn("failed to create WMI monitor vdev %i: %d\n",
+		ath10k_warn("failed to request monitor vdev %i creation: %d\n",
 			    ar->monitor_vdev_id, ret);
 		goto vdev_fail;
 	}
@@ -705,7 +700,6 @@ static int ath10k_monitor_create(struct ath10k *ar)
 	ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac monitor vdev %d created\n",
 		   ar->monitor_vdev_id);
 
-	ar->monitor_present = true;
 	return 0;
 
 vdev_fail:
@@ -716,30 +710,91 @@ static int ath10k_monitor_create(struct ath10k *ar)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int ath10k_monitor_destroy(struct ath10k *ar)
+static int ath10k_monitor_vdev_delete(struct ath10k *ar)
 {
 	int ret = 0;
 
 	lockdep_assert_held(&ar->conf_mutex);
 
-	if (!ar->monitor_present)
-		return 0;
-
 	ret = ath10k_wmi_vdev_delete(ar, ar->monitor_vdev_id);
 	if (ret) {
-		ath10k_warn("failed to delete WMI vdev %i: %d\n",
+		ath10k_warn("failed to request wmi monitor vdev %i removal: %d\n",
 			    ar->monitor_vdev_id, ret);
 		return ret;
 	}
 
 	ar->free_vdev_map |= 1 << (ar->monitor_vdev_id);
-	ar->monitor_present = false;
 
 	ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac monitor vdev %d deleted\n",
 		   ar->monitor_vdev_id);
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static int ath10k_monitor_start(struct ath10k *ar)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	lockdep_assert_held(&ar->conf_mutex);
+
+	if (!ath10k_monitor_is_enabled(ar)) {
+		ath10k_warn("trying to start monitor with no references\n");
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	if (ar->monitor_started) {
+		ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac monitor already started\n");
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	ret = ath10k_monitor_vdev_create(ar);
+	if (ret) {
+		ath10k_warn("failed to create monitor vdev: %d\n", ret);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	ret = ath10k_monitor_vdev_start(ar, ar->monitor_vdev_id);
+	if (ret) {
+		ath10k_warn("failed to start monitor vdev: %d\n", ret);
+		ath10k_monitor_vdev_delete(ar);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	ar->monitor_started = true;
+	ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac monitor started\n");
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void ath10k_monitor_stop(struct ath10k *ar)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	lockdep_assert_held(&ar->conf_mutex);
+
+	if (ath10k_monitor_is_enabled(ar)) {
+		ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC,
+			   "mac monitor will be stopped later\n");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (!ar->monitor_started) {
+		ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC,
+			   "mac monitor probably failed to start earlier\n");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	ret = ath10k_monitor_vdev_stop(ar);
+	if (ret)
+		ath10k_warn("failed to stop monitor vdev: %d\n", ret);
+
+	ret = ath10k_monitor_vdev_delete(ar);
+	if (ret)
+		ath10k_warn("failed to delete monitor vdev: %d\n", ret);
+
+	ar->monitor_started = false;
+	ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac monitor stopped\n");
+}
+
 static int ath10k_recalc_rtscts_prot(struct ath10k_vif *arvif)
 {
 	struct ath10k *ar = arvif->ar;
@@ -768,19 +823,13 @@ static int ath10k_start_cac(struct ath10k *ar)
 
 	set_bit(ATH10K_CAC_RUNNING, &ar->dev_flags);
 
-	ret = ath10k_monitor_create(ar);
+	ret = ath10k_monitor_start(ar);
 	if (ret) {
+		ath10k_warn("failed to start monitor (cac): %d\n", ret);
 		clear_bit(ATH10K_CAC_RUNNING, &ar->dev_flags);
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	ret = ath10k_monitor_start(ar, ar->monitor_vdev_id);
-	if (ret) {
-		clear_bit(ATH10K_CAC_RUNNING, &ar->dev_flags);
-		ath10k_monitor_destroy(ar);
-		return ret;
-	}
-
 	ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac cac start monitor vdev %d\n",
 		   ar->monitor_vdev_id);
 
@@ -795,9 +844,8 @@ static int ath10k_stop_cac(struct ath10k *ar)
 	if (!test_bit(ATH10K_CAC_RUNNING, &ar->dev_flags))
 		return 0;
 
-	ath10k_monitor_stop(ar);
-	ath10k_monitor_destroy(ar);
 	clear_bit(ATH10K_CAC_RUNNING, &ar->dev_flags);
+	ath10k_monitor_stop(ar);
 
 	ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac cac finished\n");
 
@@ -1828,7 +1876,7 @@ static u8 ath10k_tx_h_get_vdev_id(struct ath10k *ar,
 	if (info->control.vif)
 		return ath10k_vif_to_arvif(info->control.vif)->vdev_id;
 
-	if (ar->monitor_enabled)
+	if (ar->monitor_started)
 		return ar->monitor_vdev_id;
 
 	ath10k_warn("failed to resolve vdev id\n");
@@ -2266,7 +2314,13 @@ void ath10k_halt(struct ath10k *ar)
 {
 	lockdep_assert_held(&ar->conf_mutex);
 
-	ath10k_stop_cac(ar);
+	if (ath10k_monitor_is_enabled(ar)) {
+		clear_bit(ATH10K_CAC_RUNNING, &ar->dev_flags);
+		ar->promisc = false;
+		ar->monitor = false;
+		ath10k_monitor_stop(ar);
+	}
+
 	del_timer_sync(&ar->scan.timeout);
 	ath10k_offchan_tx_purge(ar);
 	ath10k_mgmt_over_wmi_tx_purge(ar);
@@ -2413,7 +2467,6 @@ static const char *chandef_get_width(enum nl80211_chan_width width)
 static void ath10k_config_chan(struct ath10k *ar)
 {
 	struct ath10k_vif *arvif;
-	bool monitor_was_enabled;
 	int ret;
 
 	lockdep_assert_held(&ar->conf_mutex);
@@ -2427,10 +2480,8 @@ static void ath10k_config_chan(struct ath10k *ar)
 
 	/* First stop monitor interface. Some FW versions crash if there's a
 	 * lone monitor interface. */
-	monitor_was_enabled = ar->monitor_enabled;
-
-	if (ar->monitor_enabled)
-		ath10k_monitor_stop(ar);
+	if (ar->monitor_started)
+		ath10k_monitor_vdev_stop(ar);
 
 	list_for_each_entry(arvif, &ar->arvifs, list) {
 		if (!arvif->is_started)
@@ -2475,8 +2526,8 @@ static void ath10k_config_chan(struct ath10k *ar)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (monitor_was_enabled)
-		ath10k_monitor_start(ar, ar->monitor_vdev_id);
+	if (ath10k_monitor_is_enabled(ar))
+		ath10k_monitor_vdev_start(ar, ar->monitor_vdev_id);
 }
 
 static int ath10k_config(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, u32 changed)
@@ -2529,10 +2580,19 @@ static int ath10k_config(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, u32 changed)
 		ath10k_config_ps(ar);
 
 	if (changed & IEEE80211_CONF_CHANGE_MONITOR) {
-		if (conf->flags & IEEE80211_CONF_MONITOR)
-			ret = ath10k_monitor_create(ar);
-		else
-			ret = ath10k_monitor_destroy(ar);
+		if (conf->flags & IEEE80211_CONF_MONITOR && !ar->monitor) {
+			ar->monitor = true;
+			ret = ath10k_monitor_start(ar);
+			if (ret) {
+				ath10k_warn("failed to start monitor (config): %d\n",
+					    ret);
+				ar->monitor = false;
+			}
+		} else if (!(conf->flags & IEEE80211_CONF_MONITOR) &&
+			   ar->monitor) {
+			ar->monitor = false;
+			ath10k_monitor_stop(ar);
+		}
 	}
 
 	mutex_unlock(&ar->conf_mutex);
@@ -2567,12 +2627,6 @@ static int ath10k_add_interface(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 	INIT_WORK(&arvif->wep_key_work, ath10k_tx_wep_key_work);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&arvif->list);
 
-	if ((vif->type == NL80211_IFTYPE_MONITOR) && ar->monitor_present) {
-		ath10k_warn("only one monitor interface allowed\n");
-		ret = -EBUSY;
-		goto err;
-	}
-
 	bit = ffs(ar->free_vdev_map);
 	if (bit == 0) {
 		ret = -EBUSY;
@@ -2704,9 +2758,6 @@ static int ath10k_add_interface(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		goto err_peer_delete;
 	}
 
-	if (arvif->vdev_type == WMI_VDEV_TYPE_MONITOR)
-		ar->monitor_present = true;
-
 	mutex_unlock(&ar->conf_mutex);
 	return 0;
 
@@ -2763,9 +2814,6 @@ static void ath10k_remove_interface(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		ath10k_warn("failed to delete WMI vdev %i: %d\n",
 			    arvif->vdev_id, ret);
 
-	if (arvif->vdev_type == WMI_VDEV_TYPE_MONITOR)
-		ar->monitor_present = false;
-
 	ath10k_peer_cleanup(ar, arvif->vdev_id);
 
 	mutex_unlock(&ar->conf_mutex);
@@ -2798,28 +2846,17 @@ static void ath10k_configure_filter(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 	*total_flags &= SUPPORTED_FILTERS;
 	ar->filter_flags = *total_flags;
 
-	/* Monitor must not be started if it wasn't created first.
-	 * Promiscuous mode may be started on a non-monitor interface - in
-	 * such case the monitor vdev is not created so starting the
-	 * monitor makes no sense. Since ath10k uses no special RX filters
-	 * (only BSS filter in STA mode) there's no need for any special
-	 * action here. */
-	if ((ar->filter_flags & FIF_PROMISC_IN_BSS) &&
-	    !ar->monitor_enabled && ar->monitor_present) {
-		ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac monitor %d start\n",
-			   ar->monitor_vdev_id);
-
-		ret = ath10k_monitor_start(ar, ar->monitor_vdev_id);
-		if (ret)
-			ath10k_warn("failed to start monitor mode: %d\n", ret);
-	} else if (!(ar->filter_flags & FIF_PROMISC_IN_BSS) &&
-		   ar->monitor_enabled && ar->monitor_present) {
-		ath10k_dbg(ATH10K_DBG_MAC, "mac monitor %d stop\n",
-			   ar->monitor_vdev_id);
-
-		ret = ath10k_monitor_stop(ar);
-		if (ret)
-			ath10k_warn("failed to stop monitor mode: %d\n", ret);
+	if (ar->filter_flags & FIF_PROMISC_IN_BSS && !ar->promisc) {
+		ar->promisc = true;
+		ret = ath10k_monitor_start(ar);
+		if (ret) {
+			ath10k_warn("failed to start monitor (promisc): %d\n",
+				    ret);
+			ar->promisc = false;
+		}
+	} else if (!(ar->filter_flags & FIF_PROMISC_IN_BSS) && ar->promisc) {
+		ar->promisc = false;
+		ath10k_monitor_stop(ar);
 	}
 
 	mutex_unlock(&ar->conf_mutex);
@@ -4579,7 +4616,6 @@ int ath10k_mac_register(struct ath10k *ar)
 			IEEE80211_HW_REPORTS_TX_ACK_STATUS |
 			IEEE80211_HW_HAS_RATE_CONTROL |
 			IEEE80211_HW_SUPPORTS_STATIC_SMPS |
-			IEEE80211_HW_WANT_MONITOR_VIF |
 			IEEE80211_HW_AP_LINK_PS |
 			IEEE80211_HW_SPECTRUM_MGMT;