diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-core.c
index 9d01fde92cc6..2908bff49a3b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-core.c
@@ -607,8 +607,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(iwlcore_free_geos);
 static bool is_single_rx_stream(struct iwl_priv *priv)
 {
 	return !priv->current_ht_config.is_ht ||
-	       ((priv->current_ht_config.mcs.rx_mask[1] == 0) &&
-		(priv->current_ht_config.mcs.rx_mask[2] == 0));
+	       priv->current_ht_config.single_chain_sufficient;
 }
 
 static u8 iwl_is_channel_extension(struct iwl_priv *priv,
@@ -936,12 +935,8 @@ void iwl_set_rxon_ht(struct iwl_priv *priv, struct iwl_ht_config *ht_conf)
 	if (priv->cfg->ops->hcmd->set_rxon_chain)
 		priv->cfg->ops->hcmd->set_rxon_chain(priv);
 
-	IWL_DEBUG_ASSOC(priv, "supported HT rate 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X "
-			"rxon flags 0x%X operation mode :0x%X "
+	IWL_DEBUG_ASSOC(priv, "rxon flags 0x%X operation mode :0x%X "
 			"extension channel offset 0x%x\n",
-			ht_conf->mcs.rx_mask[0],
-			ht_conf->mcs.rx_mask[1],
-			ht_conf->mcs.rx_mask[2],
 			le32_to_cpu(rxon->flags), ht_conf->ht_protection,
 			ht_conf->extension_chan_offset);
 	return;
@@ -960,12 +955,8 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(iwl_set_rxon_ht);
  */
 static int iwl_get_active_rx_chain_count(struct iwl_priv *priv)
 {
-	bool is_single = is_single_rx_stream(priv);
-	bool is_cam = !test_bit(STATUS_POWER_PMI, &priv->status);
-
 	/* # of Rx chains to use when expecting MIMO. */
-	if (is_single || (!is_cam && (priv->current_ht_config.sm_ps ==
-						 WLAN_HT_CAP_SM_PS_STATIC)))
+	if (is_single_rx_stream(priv))
 		return IWL_NUM_RX_CHAINS_SINGLE;
 	else
 		return IWL_NUM_RX_CHAINS_MULTIPLE;
@@ -973,27 +964,17 @@ static int iwl_get_active_rx_chain_count(struct iwl_priv *priv)
 
 static int iwl_get_idle_rx_chain_count(struct iwl_priv *priv, int active_cnt)
 {
-	int idle_cnt;
 	bool is_cam = !test_bit(STATUS_POWER_PMI, &priv->status);
+
 	/* # Rx chains when idling and maybe trying to save power */
-	switch (priv->current_ht_config.sm_ps) {
-	case WLAN_HT_CAP_SM_PS_STATIC:
-	case WLAN_HT_CAP_SM_PS_DYNAMIC:
-		idle_cnt = (is_cam) ? IWL_NUM_IDLE_CHAINS_DUAL :
-					IWL_NUM_IDLE_CHAINS_SINGLE;
-		break;
-	case WLAN_HT_CAP_SM_PS_DISABLED:
-		idle_cnt = (is_cam) ? active_cnt : IWL_NUM_IDLE_CHAINS_SINGLE;
-		break;
-	case WLAN_HT_CAP_SM_PS_INVALID:
-	default:
-		IWL_ERR(priv, "invalid mimo ps mode %d\n",
-			   priv->current_ht_config.sm_ps);
-		WARN_ON(1);
-		idle_cnt = -1;
-		break;
-	}
-	return idle_cnt;
+
+	/*
+	 * XXX: this is incorrect!!
+	 *	we always indicate to the AP that
+	 *	our SM PS mode is "disabled"
+	 */
+
+	return is_cam ? active_cnt : IWL_NUM_IDLE_CHAINS_SINGLE;
 }
 
 /* up to 4 chains */
@@ -1493,8 +1474,6 @@ int iwl_init_drv(struct iwl_priv *priv)
 
 	priv->iw_mode = NL80211_IFTYPE_STATION;
 
-	priv->current_ht_config.sm_ps = WLAN_HT_CAP_SM_PS_DISABLED;
-
 	/* Choose which receivers/antennas to use */
 	if (priv->cfg->ops->hcmd->set_rxon_chain)
 		priv->cfg->ops->hcmd->set_rxon_chain(priv);
@@ -2226,10 +2205,9 @@ int iwl_mac_conf_tx(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, u16 queue,
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(iwl_mac_conf_tx);
 
 static void iwl_ht_conf(struct iwl_priv *priv,
-			    struct ieee80211_bss_conf *bss_conf)
+			struct ieee80211_bss_conf *bss_conf)
 {
 	struct iwl_ht_config *ht_conf = &priv->current_ht_config;
-	struct ieee80211_sta_ht_cap *ht_cap;
 	struct ieee80211_sta *sta;
 
 	IWL_DEBUG_MAC80211(priv, "enter: \n");
@@ -2237,31 +2215,48 @@ static void iwl_ht_conf(struct iwl_priv *priv,
 	if (!ht_conf->is_ht)
 		return;
 
-
-	/*
-	 * It is totally wrong to base global information on something
-	 * that is valid only when associated, alas, this driver works
-	 * that way and I don't know how to fix it.
-	 */
-
-	rcu_read_lock();
-	sta = ieee80211_find_sta(priv->hw, priv->bssid);
-	if (!sta) {
-		rcu_read_unlock();
-		return;
-	}
-	ht_cap = &sta->ht_cap;
-
-	ht_conf->sm_ps = (u8)((ht_cap->cap & IEEE80211_HT_CAP_SM_PS) >> 2);
-
-	memcpy(&ht_conf->mcs, &ht_cap->mcs, 16);
-
 	ht_conf->ht_protection =
 		bss_conf->ht_operation_mode & IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_PROTECTION;
 	ht_conf->non_GF_STA_present =
 		!!(bss_conf->ht_operation_mode & IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_NON_GF_STA_PRSNT);
 
-	rcu_read_unlock();
+	ht_conf->single_chain_sufficient = false;
+
+	switch (priv->iw_mode) {
+	case NL80211_IFTYPE_STATION:
+		rcu_read_lock();
+		sta = ieee80211_find_sta(priv->hw, priv->bssid);
+		if (sta) {
+			struct ieee80211_sta_ht_cap *ht_cap = &sta->ht_cap;
+			int maxstreams;
+
+			maxstreams = (ht_cap->mcs.tx_params &
+				      IEEE80211_HT_MCS_TX_MAX_STREAMS_MASK)
+					>> IEEE80211_HT_MCS_TX_MAX_STREAMS_SHIFT;
+			maxstreams += 1;
+
+			if ((ht_cap->mcs.rx_mask[1] == 0) &&
+			    (ht_cap->mcs.rx_mask[2] == 0))
+				ht_conf->single_chain_sufficient = true;
+			if (maxstreams <= 1)
+				ht_conf->single_chain_sufficient = true;
+		} else {
+			/*
+			 * If at all, this can only happen through a race
+			 * when the AP disconnects us while we're still
+			 * setting up the connection, in that case mac80211
+			 * will soon tell us about that.
+			 */
+			ht_conf->single_chain_sufficient = true;
+		}
+		rcu_read_unlock();
+		break;
+	case NL80211_IFTYPE_ADHOC:
+		ht_conf->single_chain_sufficient = true;
+		break;
+	default:
+		break;
+	}
 
 	IWL_DEBUG_MAC80211(priv, "leave\n");
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-dev.h b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-dev.h
index e161f8d1766e..0c80692f934b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-dev.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl-dev.h
@@ -506,8 +506,7 @@ struct iwl_ht_config {
 	/* self configuration data */
 	bool is_ht;
 	bool is_40mhz;
-	u8 sm_ps;
-	struct ieee80211_mcs_info mcs;
+	bool single_chain_sufficient;
 	/* BSS related data */
 	u8 extension_chan_offset;
 	u8 ht_protection;