diff --git a/include/net/mac80211.h b/include/net/mac80211.h
index 855754d4c50d..494a4c022a9b 100644
--- a/include/net/mac80211.h
+++ b/include/net/mac80211.h
@@ -442,16 +442,17 @@ struct ieee80211_conf {
  * @IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_IBSS: interface in IBSS (ad-hoc) mode.
  * @IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_MNTR: interface in monitor (rfmon) mode.
  * @IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_WDS: interface in WDS mode.
- * @IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_VLAN: not used.
+ * @IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_VLAN: VLAN interface bound to an AP, drivers
+ *	will never see this type.
  */
 enum ieee80211_if_types {
-	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_AP = 0x00000000,
-	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_MGMT = 0x00000001,
-	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_STA = 0x00000002,
-	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_IBSS = 0x00000003,
-	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_MNTR = 0x00000004,
-	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_WDS = 0x5A580211,
-	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_VLAN = 0x00080211,
+	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_AP,
+	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_MGMT,
+	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_STA,
+	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_IBSS,
+	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_MNTR,
+	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_WDS,
+	IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_VLAN,
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c b/net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c
index c9948fa58e08..f0e6ab7eb624 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c
@@ -162,9 +162,6 @@ __IEEE80211_IF_FILE(beacon_tail_len);
 /* WDS attributes */
 IEEE80211_IF_FILE(peer, u.wds.remote_addr, MAC);
 
-/* VLAN attributes */
-IEEE80211_IF_FILE(vlan_id, u.vlan.id, DEC);
-
 #define DEBUGFS_ADD(name, type)\
 	sdata->debugfs.type.name = debugfs_create_file(#name, 0444,\
 		sdata->debugfsdir, sdata, &name##_ops);
@@ -223,7 +220,6 @@ static void add_vlan_files(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata)
 	DEBUGFS_ADD(drop_unencrypted, vlan);
 	DEBUGFS_ADD(eapol, vlan);
 	DEBUGFS_ADD(ieee8021_x, vlan);
-	DEBUGFS_ADD(vlan_id, vlan);
 }
 
 static void add_monitor_files(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata)
@@ -317,7 +313,6 @@ static void del_vlan_files(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata)
 	DEBUGFS_DEL(drop_unencrypted, vlan);
 	DEBUGFS_DEL(eapol, vlan);
 	DEBUGFS_DEL(ieee8021_x, vlan);
-	DEBUGFS_DEL(vlan_id, vlan);
 }
 
 static void del_monitor_files(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata)
diff --git a/net/mac80211/ieee80211.c b/net/mac80211/ieee80211.c
index 319ec2a1d84f..4e345f82f044 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/ieee80211.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/ieee80211.c
@@ -314,22 +314,43 @@ static int ieee80211_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	int res;
 
 	sdata = IEEE80211_DEV_TO_SUB_IF(dev);
+
 	read_lock(&local->sub_if_lock);
 	list_for_each_entry(nsdata, &local->sub_if_list, list) {
 		struct net_device *ndev = nsdata->dev;
 
 		if (ndev != dev && ndev != local->mdev && netif_running(ndev) &&
-		    compare_ether_addr(dev->dev_addr, ndev->dev_addr) == 0 &&
-		    !identical_mac_addr_allowed(sdata->type, nsdata->type)) {
-			read_unlock(&local->sub_if_lock);
-			return -ENOTUNIQ;
+		    compare_ether_addr(dev->dev_addr, ndev->dev_addr) == 0) {
+			/*
+			 * check whether it may have the same address
+			 */
+			if (!identical_mac_addr_allowed(sdata->type,
+							nsdata->type)) {
+				read_unlock(&local->sub_if_lock);
+				return -ENOTUNIQ;
+			}
+
+			/*
+			 * can only add VLANs to enabled APs
+			 */
+			if (sdata->type == IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_VLAN &&
+			    nsdata->type == IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_AP &&
+			    netif_running(nsdata->dev))
+				sdata->u.vlan.ap = nsdata;
 		}
 	}
 	read_unlock(&local->sub_if_lock);
 
-	if (sdata->type == IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_WDS &&
-	    is_zero_ether_addr(sdata->u.wds.remote_addr))
-		return -ENOLINK;
+	switch (sdata->type) {
+	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_WDS:
+		if (is_zero_ether_addr(sdata->u.wds.remote_addr))
+			return -ENOLINK;
+		break;
+	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_VLAN:
+		if (!sdata->u.vlan.ap)
+			return -ENOLINK;
+		break;
+	}
 
 	if (local->open_count == 0) {
 		res = 0;
@@ -340,6 +361,10 @@ static int ieee80211_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	}
 
 	switch (sdata->type) {
+	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_VLAN:
+		list_add(&sdata->u.vlan.list, &sdata->u.vlan.ap->u.ap.vlans);
+		/* no need to tell driver */
+		break;
 	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_MNTR:
 		/* must be before the call to ieee80211_configure_filter */
 		local->monitors++;
@@ -407,9 +432,24 @@ static int ieee80211_stop(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	dev_mc_unsync(local->mdev, dev);
 
+	/* down all dependent devices, that is VLANs */
+	if (sdata->type == IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_AP) {
+		struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *vlan, *tmp;
+
+		list_for_each_entry_safe(vlan, tmp, &sdata->u.ap.vlans,
+					 u.vlan.list)
+			dev_close(vlan->dev);
+		WARN_ON(!list_empty(&sdata->u.ap.vlans));
+	}
+
 	local->open_count--;
 
 	switch (sdata->type) {
+	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_VLAN:
+		list_del(&sdata->u.vlan.list);
+		sdata->u.vlan.ap = NULL;
+		/* no need to tell driver */
+		break;
 	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_MNTR:
 		local->monitors--;
 		if (local->monitors == 0) {
diff --git a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
index 74deecd09677..1a43f3e9b6bd 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
+++ b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
@@ -191,6 +191,8 @@ struct ieee80211_if_ap {
 	u8 *beacon_head, *beacon_tail;
 	int beacon_head_len, beacon_tail_len;
 
+	struct list_head vlans;
+
 	u8 ssid[IEEE80211_MAX_SSID_LEN];
 	size_t ssid_len;
 	u8 *generic_elem;
@@ -214,7 +216,8 @@ struct ieee80211_if_wds {
 };
 
 struct ieee80211_if_vlan {
-	u8 id;
+	struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *ap;
+	struct list_head list;
 };
 
 /* flags used in struct ieee80211_if_sta.flags */
@@ -377,7 +380,6 @@ struct ieee80211_sub_if_data {
 			struct dentry *drop_unencrypted;
 			struct dentry *eapol;
 			struct dentry *ieee8021_x;
-			struct dentry *vlan_id;
 		} vlan;
 		struct {
 			struct dentry *mode;
diff --git a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_iface.c b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_iface.c
index f9c74bb09d31..4590205fdf4b 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_iface.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_iface.c
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ void ieee80211_if_set_type(struct net_device *dev, int type)
 		sdata->bss = NULL;
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_VLAN:
+		sdata->u.vlan.ap = NULL;
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_AP:
 		sdata->u.ap.dtim_period = 2;
@@ -171,6 +172,7 @@ void ieee80211_if_set_type(struct net_device *dev, int type)
 		sdata->u.ap.max_ratectrl_rateidx = -1;
 		skb_queue_head_init(&sdata->u.ap.ps_bc_buf);
 		sdata->bss = &sdata->u.ap;
+		INIT_LIST_HEAD(&sdata->u.ap.vlans);
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_STA:
 	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_IBSS: {
@@ -284,6 +286,9 @@ void ieee80211_if_reinit(struct net_device *dev)
 	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_MNTR:
 		dev->type = ARPHRD_ETHER;
 		break;
+	case IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_VLAN:
+		sdata->u.vlan.ap = NULL;
+		break;
 	}
 
 	/* remove all STAs that are bound to this virtual interface */