diff --git a/net/mac80211/cfg.c b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
index 3acda35df5cb..66ad9d9af87f 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/cfg.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
@@ -746,10 +746,11 @@ static void ieee80211_send_layer2_update(struct sta_info *sta)
 	netif_rx_ni(skb);
 }
 
-static void sta_apply_parameters(struct ieee80211_local *local,
-				 struct sta_info *sta,
-				 struct station_parameters *params)
+static int sta_apply_parameters(struct ieee80211_local *local,
+				struct sta_info *sta,
+				struct station_parameters *params)
 {
+	int ret = 0;
 	u32 rates;
 	int i, j;
 	struct ieee80211_supported_band *sband;
@@ -761,13 +762,59 @@ static void sta_apply_parameters(struct ieee80211_local *local,
 	mask = params->sta_flags_mask;
 	set = params->sta_flags_set;
 
+	/*
+	 * In mesh mode, we can clear AUTHENTICATED flag but must
+	 * also make ASSOCIATED follow appropriately for the driver
+	 * API. See also below, after AUTHORIZED changes.
+	 */
+	if (mask & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_AUTHENTICATED)) {
+		/* cfg80211 should not allow this in non-mesh modes */
+		if (WARN_ON(!ieee80211_vif_is_mesh(&sdata->vif)))
+			return -EINVAL;
+
+		if (set & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_AUTHENTICATED) &&
+		    !test_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTH)) {
+			ret = sta_info_move_state_checked(sta,
+					IEEE80211_STA_AUTH);
+			if (ret)
+				return ret;
+			ret = sta_info_move_state_checked(sta,
+					IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC);
+			if (ret)
+				return ret;
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (mask & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_AUTHORIZED)) {
 		if (set & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_AUTHORIZED))
-			set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED);
+			ret = sta_info_move_state_checked(sta,
+					IEEE80211_STA_AUTHORIZED);
 		else
-			clear_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED);
+			ret = sta_info_move_state_checked(sta,
+					IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC);
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
 	}
 
+	if (mask & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_AUTHENTICATED)) {
+		/* cfg80211 should not allow this in non-mesh modes */
+		if (WARN_ON(!ieee80211_vif_is_mesh(&sdata->vif)))
+			return -EINVAL;
+
+		if (!(set & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_AUTHENTICATED)) &&
+		    test_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTH)) {
+			ret = sta_info_move_state_checked(sta,
+					IEEE80211_STA_AUTH);
+			if (ret)
+				return ret;
+			ret = sta_info_move_state_checked(sta,
+					IEEE80211_STA_NONE);
+			if (ret)
+				return ret;
+		}
+	}
+
+
 	if (mask & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_SHORT_PREAMBLE)) {
 		if (set & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_SHORT_PREAMBLE))
 			set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_SHORT_PREAMBLE);
@@ -792,13 +839,6 @@ static void sta_apply_parameters(struct ieee80211_local *local,
 			clear_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_MFP);
 	}
 
-	if (mask & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_AUTHENTICATED)) {
-		if (set & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_AUTHENTICATED))
-			set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTH);
-		else
-			clear_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTH);
-	}
-
 	if (mask & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_TDLS_PEER)) {
 		if (set & BIT(NL80211_STA_FLAG_TDLS_PEER))
 			set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_TDLS_PEER);
@@ -870,6 +910,8 @@ static void sta_apply_parameters(struct ieee80211_local *local,
 			}
 #endif
 	}
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int ieee80211_add_station(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *dev,
@@ -900,10 +942,14 @@ static int ieee80211_add_station(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *dev,
 	if (!sta)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTH);
-	set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_ASSOC);
+	sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_AUTH);
+	sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC);
 
-	sta_apply_parameters(local, sta, params);
+	err = sta_apply_parameters(local, sta, params);
+	if (err) {
+		sta_info_free(local, sta);
+		return err;
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * for TDLS, rate control should be initialized only when supported
diff --git a/net/mac80211/ibss.c b/net/mac80211/ibss.c
index fe0e91e0b8bc..47e2db9133cb 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/ibss.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/ibss.c
@@ -512,7 +512,10 @@ struct sta_info *ieee80211_ibss_add_sta(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 		return NULL;
 
 	sta->last_rx = jiffies;
-	set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED);
+
+	sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_AUTH);
+	sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC);
+	sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_AUTHORIZED);
 
 	/* make sure mandatory rates are always added */
 	sta->sta.supp_rates[band] = supp_rates |
diff --git a/net/mac80211/iface.c b/net/mac80211/iface.c
index 3d3bb5e9d8fa..e47768cb8cb3 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/iface.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/iface.c
@@ -318,8 +318,9 @@ static int ieee80211_do_open(struct net_device *dev, bool coming_up)
 			goto err_del_interface;
 		}
 
-		/* no atomic bitop required since STA is not live yet */
-		set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED);
+		sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_AUTH);
+		sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC);
+		sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_AUTHORIZED);
 
 		res = sta_info_insert(sta);
 		if (res) {
diff --git a/net/mac80211/mesh_plink.c b/net/mac80211/mesh_plink.c
index 7314372b12ba..41ef1b476442 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mesh_plink.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mesh_plink.c
@@ -96,9 +96,12 @@ static struct sta_info *mesh_plink_alloc(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 	if (!sta)
 		return NULL;
 
-	set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTH);
-	set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED);
+	sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_AUTH);
+	sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC);
+	sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_AUTHORIZED);
+
 	set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_WME);
+
 	sta->sta.supp_rates[local->hw.conf.channel->band] = rates;
 	if (elems->ht_cap_elem)
 		ieee80211_ht_cap_ie_to_sta_ht_cap(sdata, sband,
diff --git a/net/mac80211/mlme.c b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
index 09019d135942..3789b82f1098 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mlme.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
@@ -1577,10 +1577,10 @@ static bool ieee80211_assoc_success(struct ieee80211_work *wk,
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTH);
-	set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_ASSOC);
+	sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_AUTH);
+	sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC);
 	if (!(ifmgd->flags & IEEE80211_STA_CONTROL_PORT))
-		set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED);
+		sta_info_move_state(sta, IEEE80211_STA_AUTHORIZED);
 
 	rates = 0;
 	basic_rates = 0;
diff --git a/net/mac80211/sta_info.c b/net/mac80211/sta_info.c
index c6ca9bd81add..b22775cdcdf5 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/sta_info.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/sta_info.c
@@ -204,16 +204,17 @@ struct sta_info *sta_info_get_by_idx(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 }
 
 /**
- * __sta_info_free - internal STA free helper
+ * sta_info_free - free STA
  *
  * @local: pointer to the global information
  * @sta: STA info to free
  *
  * This function must undo everything done by sta_info_alloc()
- * that may happen before sta_info_insert().
+ * that may happen before sta_info_insert(). It may only be
+ * called when sta_info_insert() has not been attempted (and
+ * if that fails, the station is freed anyway.)
  */
-static void __sta_info_free(struct ieee80211_local *local,
-			    struct sta_info *sta)
+void sta_info_free(struct ieee80211_local *local, struct sta_info *sta)
 {
 	if (sta->rate_ctrl) {
 		rate_control_free_sta(sta);
@@ -598,7 +599,7 @@ int sta_info_insert_rcu(struct sta_info *sta) __acquires(RCU)
 	return 0;
  out_free:
 	BUG_ON(!err);
-	__sta_info_free(local, sta);
+	sta_info_free(local, sta);
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -905,6 +906,9 @@ static int __must_check __sta_info_destroy(struct sta_info *sta)
 	if (sdata->vif.type == NL80211_IFTYPE_AP_VLAN)
 		RCU_INIT_POINTER(sdata->u.vlan.sta, NULL);
 
+	while (sta->sta_state > IEEE80211_STA_NONE)
+		sta_info_move_state(sta, sta->sta_state - 1);
+
 	if (sta->uploaded) {
 		if (sdata->vif.type == NL80211_IFTYPE_AP_VLAN)
 			sdata = container_of(sdata->bss,
@@ -974,7 +978,7 @@ static int __must_check __sta_info_destroy(struct sta_info *sta)
 		kfree_rcu(tid_tx, rcu_head);
 	}
 
-	__sta_info_free(local, sta);
+	sta_info_free(local, sta);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -1538,3 +1542,52 @@ void ieee80211_sta_set_buffered(struct ieee80211_sta *pubsta,
 	sta_info_recalc_tim(sta);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(ieee80211_sta_set_buffered);
+
+int sta_info_move_state_checked(struct sta_info *sta,
+				enum ieee80211_sta_state new_state)
+{
+	/* might_sleep(); -- for driver notify later, fix IBSS first */
+
+	if (sta->sta_state == new_state)
+		return 0;
+
+	switch (new_state) {
+	case IEEE80211_STA_NONE:
+		if (sta->sta_state == IEEE80211_STA_AUTH)
+			clear_bit(WLAN_STA_AUTH, &sta->_flags);
+		else
+			return -EINVAL;
+		break;
+	case IEEE80211_STA_AUTH:
+		if (sta->sta_state == IEEE80211_STA_NONE)
+			set_bit(WLAN_STA_AUTH, &sta->_flags);
+		else if (sta->sta_state == IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC)
+			clear_bit(WLAN_STA_ASSOC, &sta->_flags);
+		else
+			return -EINVAL;
+		break;
+	case IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC:
+		if (sta->sta_state == IEEE80211_STA_AUTH)
+			set_bit(WLAN_STA_ASSOC, &sta->_flags);
+		else if (sta->sta_state == IEEE80211_STA_AUTHORIZED)
+			clear_bit(WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED, &sta->_flags);
+		else
+			return -EINVAL;
+		break;
+	case IEEE80211_STA_AUTHORIZED:
+		if (sta->sta_state == IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC)
+			set_bit(WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED, &sta->_flags);
+		else
+			return -EINVAL;
+		break;
+	default:
+		WARN(1, "invalid state %d", new_state);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	printk(KERN_DEBUG "%s: moving STA %pM to state %d\n",
+		sta->sdata->name, sta->sta.addr, new_state);
+	sta->sta_state = new_state;
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/net/mac80211/sta_info.h b/net/mac80211/sta_info.h
index 1a14fab4bc9a..63f4d316a954 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/sta_info.h
+++ b/net/mac80211/sta_info.h
@@ -73,6 +73,14 @@ enum ieee80211_sta_info_flags {
 	WLAN_STA_4ADDR_EVENT,
 };
 
+enum ieee80211_sta_state {
+	/* NOTE: These need to be ordered correctly! */
+	IEEE80211_STA_NONE,
+	IEEE80211_STA_AUTH,
+	IEEE80211_STA_ASSOC,
+	IEEE80211_STA_AUTHORIZED,
+};
+
 #define STA_TID_NUM 16
 #define ADDBA_RESP_INTERVAL HZ
 #define HT_AGG_MAX_RETRIES		0x3
@@ -262,6 +270,7 @@ struct sta_ampdu_mlme {
  * @dummy: indicate a dummy station created for receiving
  *	EAP frames before association
  * @sta: station information we share with the driver
+ * @sta_state: duplicates information about station state (for debug)
  */
 struct sta_info {
 	/* General information, mostly static */
@@ -283,6 +292,8 @@ struct sta_info {
 
 	bool uploaded;
 
+	enum ieee80211_sta_state sta_state;
+
 	/* use the accessors defined below */
 	unsigned long _flags;
 
@@ -371,12 +382,18 @@ static inline enum nl80211_plink_state sta_plink_state(struct sta_info *sta)
 static inline void set_sta_flag(struct sta_info *sta,
 				enum ieee80211_sta_info_flags flag)
 {
+	WARN_ON(flag == WLAN_STA_AUTH ||
+		flag == WLAN_STA_ASSOC ||
+		flag == WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED);
 	set_bit(flag, &sta->_flags);
 }
 
 static inline void clear_sta_flag(struct sta_info *sta,
 				  enum ieee80211_sta_info_flags flag)
 {
+	WARN_ON(flag == WLAN_STA_AUTH ||
+		flag == WLAN_STA_ASSOC ||
+		flag == WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED);
 	clear_bit(flag, &sta->_flags);
 }
 
@@ -389,15 +406,32 @@ static inline int test_sta_flag(struct sta_info *sta,
 static inline int test_and_clear_sta_flag(struct sta_info *sta,
 					  enum ieee80211_sta_info_flags flag)
 {
+	WARN_ON(flag == WLAN_STA_AUTH ||
+		flag == WLAN_STA_ASSOC ||
+		flag == WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED);
 	return test_and_clear_bit(flag, &sta->_flags);
 }
 
 static inline int test_and_set_sta_flag(struct sta_info *sta,
 					enum ieee80211_sta_info_flags flag)
 {
+	WARN_ON(flag == WLAN_STA_AUTH ||
+		flag == WLAN_STA_ASSOC ||
+		flag == WLAN_STA_AUTHORIZED);
 	return test_and_set_bit(flag, &sta->_flags);
 }
 
+int sta_info_move_state_checked(struct sta_info *sta,
+				enum ieee80211_sta_state new_state);
+
+static inline void sta_info_move_state(struct sta_info *sta,
+				       enum ieee80211_sta_state new_state)
+{
+	int ret = sta_info_move_state_checked(sta, new_state);
+	WARN_ON_ONCE(ret);
+}
+
+
 void ieee80211_assign_tid_tx(struct sta_info *sta, int tid,
 			     struct tid_ampdu_tx *tid_tx);
 
@@ -489,6 +523,9 @@ struct sta_info *sta_info_get_by_idx(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
  */
 struct sta_info *sta_info_alloc(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 				u8 *addr, gfp_t gfp);
+
+void sta_info_free(struct ieee80211_local *local, struct sta_info *sta);
+
 /*
  * Insert STA info into hash table/list, returns zero or a
  * -EEXIST if (if the same MAC address is already present).
diff --git a/net/mac80211/tx.c b/net/mac80211/tx.c
index e74652d38245..50c4be9a6404 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/tx.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/tx.c
@@ -295,7 +295,6 @@ ieee80211_tx_h_check_assoc(struct ieee80211_tx_data *tx)
 
 	if (likely(tx->flags & IEEE80211_TX_UNICAST)) {
 		if (unlikely(!assoc &&
-			     tx->sdata->vif.type != NL80211_IFTYPE_ADHOC &&
 			     ieee80211_is_data(hdr->frame_control))) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_MAC80211_VERBOSE_DEBUG
 			printk(KERN_DEBUG "%s: dropped data frame to not "