diff --git a/net/mac80211/driver-ops.c b/net/mac80211/driver-ops.c
index dce37ba8ebe3..254d745832cb 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/driver-ops.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/driver-ops.c
@@ -311,6 +311,18 @@ int drv_assign_vif_chanctx(struct ieee80211_local *local,
 	might_sleep();
 	lockdep_assert_wiphy(local->hw.wiphy);
 
+	/*
+	 * We should perhaps push emulate chanctx down and only
+	 * make it call ->config() when the chanctx is actually
+	 * assigned here (and unassigned below), but that's yet
+	 * another change to all drivers to add assign/unassign
+	 * emulation callbacks. Maybe later.
+	 */
+	if (sdata->vif.type == NL80211_IFTYPE_MONITOR &&
+	    local->emulate_chanctx &&
+	    !ieee80211_hw_check(&local->hw, WANT_MONITOR_VIF))
+		return 0;
+
 	if (!check_sdata_in_driver(sdata))
 		return -EIO;
 
@@ -338,6 +350,11 @@ void drv_unassign_vif_chanctx(struct ieee80211_local *local,
 	might_sleep();
 	lockdep_assert_wiphy(local->hw.wiphy);
 
+	if (sdata->vif.type == NL80211_IFTYPE_MONITOR &&
+	    local->emulate_chanctx &&
+	    !ieee80211_hw_check(&local->hw, WANT_MONITOR_VIF))
+		return;
+
 	if (!check_sdata_in_driver(sdata))
 		return;
 
diff --git a/net/mac80211/iface.c b/net/mac80211/iface.c
index dc42902e2693..4a49e834a9f5 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/iface.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/iface.c
@@ -1121,9 +1121,6 @@ int ieee80211_add_virtual_monitor(struct ieee80211_local *local)
 	struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata;
 	int ret;
 
-	if (!ieee80211_hw_check(&local->hw, WANT_MONITOR_VIF))
-		return 0;
-
 	ASSERT_RTNL();
 	lockdep_assert_wiphy(local->hw.wiphy);
 
@@ -1145,11 +1142,13 @@ int ieee80211_add_virtual_monitor(struct ieee80211_local *local)
 
 	ieee80211_set_default_queues(sdata);
 
-	ret = drv_add_interface(local, sdata);
-	if (WARN_ON(ret)) {
-		/* ok .. stupid driver, it asked for this! */
-		kfree(sdata);
-		return ret;
+	if (ieee80211_hw_check(&local->hw, WANT_MONITOR_VIF)) {
+		ret = drv_add_interface(local, sdata);
+		if (WARN_ON(ret)) {
+			/* ok .. stupid driver, it asked for this! */
+			kfree(sdata);
+			return ret;
+		}
 	}
 
 	set_bit(SDATA_STATE_RUNNING, &sdata->state);
@@ -1187,9 +1186,6 @@ void ieee80211_del_virtual_monitor(struct ieee80211_local *local)
 {
 	struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata;
 
-	if (!ieee80211_hw_check(&local->hw, WANT_MONITOR_VIF))
-		return;
-
 	ASSERT_RTNL();
 	lockdep_assert_wiphy(local->hw.wiphy);
 
@@ -1209,7 +1205,8 @@ void ieee80211_del_virtual_monitor(struct ieee80211_local *local)
 
 	ieee80211_link_release_channel(&sdata->deflink);
 
-	drv_remove_interface(local, sdata);
+	if (ieee80211_hw_check(&local->hw, WANT_MONITOR_VIF))
+		drv_remove_interface(local, sdata);
 
 	kfree(sdata);
 }
diff --git a/net/mac80211/util.c b/net/mac80211/util.c
index 283bfc99417e..963ed75deb76 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/util.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/util.c
@@ -1843,7 +1843,7 @@ int ieee80211_reconfig(struct ieee80211_local *local)
 
 	/* add interfaces */
 	sdata = wiphy_dereference(local->hw.wiphy, local->monitor_sdata);
-	if (sdata) {
+	if (sdata && ieee80211_hw_check(&local->hw, WANT_MONITOR_VIF)) {
 		/* in HW restart it exists already */
 		WARN_ON(local->resuming);
 		res = drv_add_interface(local, sdata);