diff --git a/net/wireless/core.c b/net/wireless/core.c
index e13365f..babf9b2 100644
--- a/net/wireless/core.c
+++ b/net/wireless/core.c
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ void cfg80211_update_iface_num(struct cfg80211_registered_device *rdev,
 	bool has_monitors_only_old = cfg80211_has_monitors_only(rdev);
 	bool has_monitors_only_new;
 
-	ASSERT_RDEV_LOCK(rdev);
+	ASSERT_RTNL();
 
 	rdev->num_running_ifaces += num;
 	if (iftype == NL80211_IFTYPE_MONITOR)
@@ -888,10 +888,8 @@ static int cfg80211_netdev_notifier_call(struct notifier_block *nb,
 		wdev->beacon_interval = 0;
 		break;
 	case NETDEV_DOWN:
-		dev_hold(dev);
-		cfg80211_lock_rdev(rdev);
 		cfg80211_update_iface_num(rdev, wdev->iftype, -1);
-		cfg80211_unlock_rdev(rdev);
+		dev_hold(dev);
 		queue_work(cfg80211_wq, &wdev->cleanup_work);
 		break;
 	case NETDEV_UP:
diff --git a/net/wireless/core.h b/net/wireless/core.h
index 81fef3d..377dc39 100644
--- a/net/wireless/core.h
+++ b/net/wireless/core.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <linux/debugfs.h>
 #include <linux/rfkill.h>
 #include <linux/workqueue.h>
+#include <linux/rtnetlink.h>
 #include <net/genetlink.h>
 #include <net/cfg80211.h>
 #include "reg.h"
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ struct cfg80211_registered_device {
 
 	u32 ap_beacons_nlpid;
 
+	/* protected by RTNL only */
 	int num_running_ifaces;
 	int num_running_monitor_ifaces;
 
@@ -205,7 +207,7 @@ static inline void wdev_unlock(struct wireless_dev *wdev)
 
 static inline bool cfg80211_has_monitors_only(struct cfg80211_registered_device *rdev)
 {
-	ASSERT_RDEV_LOCK(rdev);
+	ASSERT_RTNL();
 
 	return rdev->num_running_ifaces == rdev->num_running_monitor_ifaces &&
 	       rdev->num_running_ifaces > 0;