diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c
index 3a1c156d275fa7bf7d232e3247a01ed07f5b9881..5d5028538ac29337d106a2feb7c220e76e65990f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c
@@ -1071,10 +1071,9 @@ ath5k_setup_bands(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 }
 
 /*
- * Set/change channels.  If the channel is really being changed,
- * it's done by reseting the chip.  To accomplish this we must
- * first cleanup any pending DMA, then restart stuff after a la
- * ath5k_init.
+ * Set/change channels. We always reset the chip.
+ * To accomplish this we must first cleanup any pending DMA,
+ * then restart stuff after a la  ath5k_init.
  *
  * Called with sc->lock.
  */
@@ -1084,19 +1083,13 @@ ath5k_chan_set(struct ath5k_softc *sc, struct ieee80211_channel *chan)
 	ATH5K_DBG(sc, ATH5K_DEBUG_RESET, "(%u MHz) -> (%u MHz)\n",
 		sc->curchan->center_freq, chan->center_freq);
 
-	if (chan->center_freq != sc->curchan->center_freq ||
-		chan->hw_value != sc->curchan->hw_value) {
-
-		/*
-		 * To switch channels clear any pending DMA operations;
-		 * wait long enough for the RX fifo to drain, reset the
-		 * hardware at the new frequency, and then re-enable
-		 * the relevant bits of the h/w.
-		 */
-		return ath5k_reset(sc, chan);
-	}
-
-	return 0;
+	/*
+	 * To switch channels clear any pending DMA operations;
+	 * wait long enough for the RX fifo to drain, reset the
+	 * hardware at the new frequency, and then re-enable
+	 * the relevant bits of the h/w.
+	 */
+	return ath5k_reset(sc, chan);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -2811,9 +2804,11 @@ ath5k_config(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, u32 changed)
 
 	mutex_lock(&sc->lock);
 
-	ret = ath5k_chan_set(sc, conf->channel);
-	if (ret < 0)
-		goto unlock;
+	if (changed & IEEE80211_CONF_CHANGE_CHANNEL) {
+		ret = ath5k_chan_set(sc, conf->channel);
+		if (ret < 0)
+			goto unlock;
+	}
 
 	if ((changed & IEEE80211_CONF_CHANGE_POWER) &&
 	(sc->power_level != conf->power_level)) {