diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c b/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c
index 718da8d6d6583f1e148e9f927cbf912322007a0b..a744ea5a95599797023a0040401ab1816855f77f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c
@@ -304,7 +304,10 @@ static int brcms_ops_start(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 	wl->mute_tx = true;
 
 	if (!wl->pub->up)
-		err = brcms_up(wl);
+		if (!blocked)
+			err = brcms_up(wl);
+		else
+			err = -ERFKILL;
 	else
 		err = -ENODEV;
 	spin_unlock_bh(&wl->lock);