diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/bcmdhd/dhd_linux.c b/drivers/net/wireless/bcmdhd/dhd_linux.c
index 233c89128303..0c34e79bf2ca 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/bcmdhd/dhd_linux.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/bcmdhd/dhd_linux.c
@@ -4390,17 +4390,23 @@ int net_os_send_hang_message(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	dhd_info_t *dhd = *(dhd_info_t **)netdev_priv(dev);
 	int ret = 0;
+	int need_unlock = 0;
 
 	if (dhd) {
 		if (!dhd->pub.hang_was_sent) {
 			dhd->pub.hang_was_sent = 1;
+			if (!rtnl_is_locked()) {
+				need_unlock = 1;
+				rtnl_lock();
+			}
+			dev_close(dev);
+			if (need_unlock)
+				rtnl_unlock();
 #if defined(CONFIG_WIRELESS_EXT)
 			ret = wl_iw_send_priv_event(dev, "HANG");
 #endif
 #if defined(WL_CFG80211)
 			ret = wl_cfg80211_hang(dev, WLAN_REASON_UNSPECIFIED);
-			dev_close(dev);
-			dev_open(dev);
 #endif
 		}
 	}