diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c
index d9769c527346..ed51c4a69d43 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c
@@ -1682,20 +1682,21 @@ ath5k_tasklet_rx(unsigned long data)
 	struct ath5k_rx_status rs = {};
 	struct sk_buff *skb;
 	struct ath5k_softc *sc = (void *)data;
-	struct ath5k_buf *bf;
+	struct ath5k_buf *bf, *bf_last;
 	struct ath5k_desc *ds;
 	int ret;
 	int hdrlen;
 	int pad;
 
 	spin_lock(&sc->rxbuflock);
+	if (list_empty(&sc->rxbuf)) {
+		ATH5K_WARN(sc, "empty rx buf pool\n");
+		goto unlock;
+	}
+	bf_last = list_entry(sc->rxbuf.prev, struct ath5k_buf, list);
 	do {
 		rxs.flag = 0;
 
-		if (unlikely(list_empty(&sc->rxbuf))) {
-			ATH5K_WARN(sc, "empty rx buf pool\n");
-			break;
-		}
 		bf = list_first_entry(&sc->rxbuf, struct ath5k_buf, list);
 		BUG_ON(bf->skb == NULL);
 		skb = bf->skb;
@@ -1705,8 +1706,24 @@ ath5k_tasklet_rx(unsigned long data)
 		pci_dma_sync_single_for_cpu(sc->pdev, sc->desc_daddr,
 				sc->desc_len, PCI_DMA_FROMDEVICE);
 
-		if (unlikely(ds->ds_link == bf->daddr)) /* this is the end */
-			break;
+		/*
+		 * last buffer must not be freed to ensure proper hardware
+		 * function. When the hardware finishes also a packet next to
+		 * it, we are sure, it doesn't use it anymore and we can go on.
+		 */
+		if (bf_last == bf)
+			bf->flags |= 1;
+		if (bf->flags) {
+			struct ath5k_buf *bf_next = list_entry(bf->list.next,
+					struct ath5k_buf, list);
+			ret = sc->ah->ah_proc_rx_desc(sc->ah, bf_next->desc,
+					&rs);
+			if (ret)
+				break;
+			bf->flags &= ~1;
+			/* skip the overwritten one (even status is martian) */
+			goto next;
+		}
 
 		ret = sc->ah->ah_proc_rx_desc(sc->ah, ds, &rs);
 		if (unlikely(ret == -EINPROGRESS))
@@ -1816,6 +1833,7 @@ accept:
 next:
 		list_move_tail(&bf->list, &sc->rxbuf);
 	} while (ath5k_rxbuf_setup(sc, bf) == 0);
+unlock:
 	spin_unlock(&sc->rxbuflock);
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.h
index 47f414b09e67..d7e03e6b8271 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 
 struct ath5k_buf {
 	struct list_head	list;
-	unsigned int		flags;	/* tx descriptor flags */
+	unsigned int		flags;	/* rx descriptor flags */
 	struct ath5k_desc	*desc;	/* virtual addr of desc */
 	dma_addr_t		daddr;	/* physical addr of desc */
 	struct sk_buff		*skb;	/* skbuff for buf */