diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-agn.c b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-agn.c
index 06e2682450772d45036ddf0c58f1ec5fc96b8c2d..cc4b6eba8a11435194e7606b87edc5336959f79c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-agn.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-agn.c
@@ -1402,8 +1402,11 @@ static void iwl_irq_tasklet(struct iwl_priv *priv)
 		 * the driver as well won't allow loading if RFKILL is set
 		 * therefore no need to restart the driver from this handler
 		 */
-		if (!hw_rf_kill && !test_bit(STATUS_ALIVE, &priv->status))
+		if (!hw_rf_kill && !test_bit(STATUS_ALIVE, &priv->status)) {
 			clear_bit(STATUS_RF_KILL_HW, &priv->status);
+			if (priv->is_open && !iwl_is_rfkill(priv))
+				queue_work(priv->workqueue, &priv->up);
+		}
 
 		handled |= CSR_INT_BIT_RF_KILL;
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-core.c
index 6fc395092dfea8cb5885fb6c665a0faeb9ce4f91..ced79112ed01a11eda73e0ce371e32f3e3611c44 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-core.c
@@ -1446,6 +1446,16 @@ int iwl_radio_kill_sw_enable_radio(struct iwl_priv *priv)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	/* when driver is up while rfkill is on, it wont receive
+	 * any CARD_STATE_NOTIFICATION notifications so we have to
+	 * restart it in here
+	 */
+	if (priv->is_open && !test_bit(STATUS_ALIVE, &priv->status)) {
+		clear_bit(STATUS_RF_KILL_SW, &priv->status);
+		if (!iwl_is_rfkill(priv))
+			queue_work(priv->workqueue, &priv->up);
+	}
+
 	/* If the driver is already loaded, it will receive
 	 * CARD_STATE_NOTIFICATION notifications and the handler will
 	 * call restart to reload the driver.