diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
index 7fee35ff966b..2f820d4eb308 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
@@ -5103,7 +5103,8 @@ static int ath10k_mac_txpower_recalc(struct ath10k *ar)
 	lockdep_assert_held(&ar->conf_mutex);
 
 	list_for_each_entry(arvif, &ar->arvifs, list) {
-		if (arvif->txpower <= 0)
+		/* txpower not initialized yet? */
+		if (arvif->txpower == INT_MIN)
 			continue;
 
 		if (txpower == -1)
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/main.c
index 0548aa3702e3..983b6d6c89f0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/main.c
@@ -1196,6 +1196,9 @@ static void ath9k_tpc_vif_iter(void *data, u8 *mac, struct ieee80211_vif *vif)
 {
 	int *power = data;
 
+	if (vif->bss_conf.txpower == INT_MIN)
+		return;
+
 	if (*power < vif->bss_conf.txpower)
 		*power = vif->bss_conf.txpower;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
index 31e7b108279c..e60d4737fc6e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
@@ -2095,10 +2095,13 @@ static void setup_frame_info(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 
 	if (tx_info->control.vif) {
 		struct ieee80211_vif *vif = tx_info->control.vif;
-
+		if (vif->bss_conf.txpower == INT_MIN)
+			goto nonvifpower;
 		txpower = 2 * vif->bss_conf.txpower;
 	} else {
-		struct ath_softc *sc = hw->priv;
+		struct ath_softc *sc;
+	nonvifpower:
+		sc = hw->priv;
 
 		txpower = sc->cur_chan->cur_txpower;
 	}
diff --git a/include/net/mac80211.h b/include/net/mac80211.h
index 6d4ea71523d2..7287ad3034dd 100644
--- a/include/net/mac80211.h
+++ b/include/net/mac80211.h
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ struct ieee80211_ftm_responder_params {
  * @ssid: The SSID of the current vif. Valid in AP and IBSS mode.
  * @ssid_len: Length of SSID given in @ssid.
  * @hidden_ssid: The SSID of the current vif is hidden. Only valid in AP-mode.
- * @txpower: TX power in dBm
+ * @txpower: TX power in dBm.  INT_MIN means not configured.
  * @txpower_type: TX power adjustment used to control per packet Transmit
  *	Power Control (TPC) in lower driver for the current vif. In particular
  *	TPC is enabled if value passed in %txpower_type is
diff --git a/net/mac80211/iface.c b/net/mac80211/iface.c
index 2fb26bc105f8..3c00408e9c8c 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/iface.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/iface.c
@@ -1465,6 +1465,7 @@ static void ieee80211_setup_sdata(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 	sdata->control_port_no_encrypt = false;
 	sdata->encrypt_headroom = IEEE80211_ENCRYPT_HEADROOM;
 	sdata->vif.bss_conf.idle = true;
+	sdata->vif.bss_conf.txpower = INT_MIN; /* unset */
 
 	sdata->noack_map = 0;
 	sdata->hw_80211_encap = false;
diff --git a/net/mac80211/main.c b/net/mac80211/main.c
index 265a31a8104d..cae3a34d3503 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/main.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/main.c
@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ static u32 ieee80211_hw_conf_chan(struct ieee80211_local *local)
 			continue;
 		if (sdata->vif.type == NL80211_IFTYPE_AP_VLAN)
 			continue;
+		if (sdata->vif.bss_conf.txpower == INT_MIN)
+			continue;
 		power = min(power, sdata->vif.bss_conf.txpower);
 	}
 	rcu_read_unlock();