diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/core.c
index a15a911484bb..0cabea7dd92b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/core.c
@@ -5617,8 +5617,16 @@ int rtw89_core_start(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev)
 {
 	int ret;
 
+	ret = rtw89_mac_preinit(rtwdev);
+	if (ret) {
+		rtw89_err(rtwdev, "mac preinit fail, ret: %d\n", ret);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
 	rtw89_phy_init_bb_afe(rtwdev);
 
+	/* above do preinit before downloading firmware */
+
 	ret = rtw89_mac_init(rtwdev);
 	if (ret) {
 		rtw89_err(rtwdev, "mac init fail, ret:%d\n", ret);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac.c
index dab0a76556c9..ff160d25a7c9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac.c
@@ -4126,6 +4126,17 @@ int rtw89_mac_partial_init(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev, bool include_bb)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+int rtw89_mac_preinit(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = rtw89_mac_pwr_on(rtwdev);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 int rtw89_mac_init(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev)
 {
 	const struct rtw89_mac_gen_def *mac = rtwdev->chip->mac_def;
@@ -4133,10 +4144,6 @@ int rtw89_mac_init(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev)
 	bool include_bb = !!chip->bbmcu_nr;
 	int ret;
 
-	ret = rtw89_mac_pwr_on(rtwdev);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
-
 	ret = rtw89_mac_partial_init(rtwdev, include_bb);
 	if (ret)
 		goto fail;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac.h b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac.h
index 3cc97fd0c0ec..d203db444a34 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac.h
@@ -1201,6 +1201,7 @@ rtw89_write32_port_set(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev, struct rtw89_vif_link *rtwvif_l
 int rtw89_mac_pwr_on(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev);
 void rtw89_mac_pwr_off(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev);
 int rtw89_mac_partial_init(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev, bool include_bb);
+int rtw89_mac_preinit(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev);
 int rtw89_mac_init(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev);
 int rtw89_mac_dle_init(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev, enum rtw89_qta_mode mode,
 		       enum rtw89_qta_mode ext_mode);