diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.h
index 8b38c0a5d7e6..157681241733 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/ath9k.h
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ struct ath_softc {
 	u32 keymax;
 	DECLARE_BITMAP(keymap, ATH_KEYMAX);
 	u8 splitmic;
-	atomic_t ps_usecount;
+	unsigned long ps_usecount;
 	enum ath9k_int imask;
 	enum ath9k_ht_extprotspacing ht_extprotspacing;
 	enum ath9k_ht_macmode tx_chan_width;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hw.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hw.c
index df278fd807b8..b9d1a13ba164 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hw.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hw.c
@@ -2777,23 +2777,39 @@ bool ath9k_hw_setpower(struct ath_hw *ah, enum ath9k_power_mode mode)
 
 void ath9k_ps_wakeup(struct ath_softc *sc)
 {
-	if (atomic_inc_return(&sc->ps_usecount) == 1)
-		if (sc->sc_ah->power_mode != ATH9K_PM_AWAKE) {
-			sc->sc_ah->restore_mode = sc->sc_ah->power_mode;
-			ath9k_hw_setpower(sc->sc_ah, ATH9K_PM_AWAKE);
-		}
+	unsigned long flags;
+
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&sc->sc_pm_lock, flags);
+	if (++sc->ps_usecount != 1)
+		goto unlock;
+
+	if (sc->sc_ah->power_mode != ATH9K_PM_AWAKE) {
+		sc->sc_ah->restore_mode = sc->sc_ah->power_mode;
+		ath9k_hw_setpower_nolock(sc->sc_ah, ATH9K_PM_AWAKE);
+	}
+
+ unlock:
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&sc->sc_pm_lock, flags);
 }
 
 void ath9k_ps_restore(struct ath_softc *sc)
 {
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&sc->ps_usecount))
-		if ((sc->hw->conf.flags & IEEE80211_CONF_PS) &&
-		    !(sc->sc_flags & (SC_OP_WAIT_FOR_BEACON |
-				      SC_OP_WAIT_FOR_CAB |
-				      SC_OP_WAIT_FOR_PSPOLL_DATA |
-				      SC_OP_WAIT_FOR_TX_ACK)))
-			ath9k_hw_setpower(sc->sc_ah,
-					  sc->sc_ah->restore_mode);
+	unsigned long flags;
+
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&sc->sc_pm_lock, flags);
+	if (--sc->ps_usecount != 0)
+		goto unlock;
+
+	if ((sc->hw->conf.flags & IEEE80211_CONF_PS) &&
+		!(sc->sc_flags & (SC_OP_WAIT_FOR_BEACON |
+				SC_OP_WAIT_FOR_CAB |
+				SC_OP_WAIT_FOR_PSPOLL_DATA |
+				SC_OP_WAIT_FOR_TX_ACK)))
+		ath9k_hw_setpower_nolock(sc->sc_ah,
+				      sc->sc_ah->restore_mode);
+
+ unlock:
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&sc->sc_pm_lock, flags);
 }
 
 /*