diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/mac80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/mac80211.c
index 0aeca64725da..42da8e94900c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/mac80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/mac80211.c
@@ -3677,6 +3677,19 @@ iwl_mvm_sta_state_notexist_to_none(struct iwl_mvm *mvm,
 	if (vif->type == NL80211_IFTYPE_STATION && !sta->tdls)
 		mvmvif->ap_sta = sta;
 
+	/*
+	 * Initialize the rates here already - this really tells
+	 * the firmware only what the supported legacy rates are
+	 * (may be) since it's initialized already from what the
+	 * AP advertised in the beacon/probe response. This will
+	 * allow the firmware to send auth/assoc frames with one
+	 * of the supported rates already, rather than having to
+	 * use a mandatory rate.
+	 * If we're the AP, we'll just assume mandatory rates at
+	 * this point, but we know nothing about the STA anyway.
+	 */
+	iwl_mvm_rs_rate_init_all_links(mvm, vif, sta);
+
 	return 0;
 }