diff --git a/net/mac80211/util.c b/net/mac80211/util.c
index 78a6e924c7e1..dc76267e436e 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/util.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/util.c
@@ -1039,7 +1039,19 @@ int ieee80211_reconfig(struct ieee80211_local *local)
 
 	/* restart hardware */
 	if (local->open_count) {
+		/*
+		 * Upon resume hardware can sometimes be goofy due to
+		 * various platform / driver / bus issues, so restarting
+		 * the device may at times not work immediately. Propagate
+		 * the error.
+		 */
 		res = drv_start(local);
+		if (res) {
+			WARN(local->suspended, "Harware became unavailable "
+			     "upon resume. This is could be a software issue"
+			     "prior to suspend or a harware issue\n");
+			return res;
+		}
 
 		ieee80211_led_radio(local, true);
 	}