diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.c
index 9dca1a0af73e..218c0a0c9699 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.c
@@ -1017,6 +1017,8 @@ static void ath12k_core_hw_group_stop(struct ath12k_hw_group *ag)
 
 	ath12k_mac_unregister(ag);
 
+	ath12k_mac_mlo_teardown(ag);
+
 	for (i = ag->num_devices - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
 		ab = ag->ab[i];
 		if (!ab)
@@ -1134,8 +1136,14 @@ static int ath12k_core_hw_group_start(struct ath12k_hw_group *ag)
 
 	lockdep_assert_held(&ag->mutex);
 
-	if (test_bit(ATH12K_GROUP_FLAG_REGISTERED, &ag->flags))
+	if (test_bit(ATH12K_GROUP_FLAG_REGISTERED, &ag->flags)) {
+		ret = ath12k_core_mlo_setup(ag);
+		if (WARN_ON(ret)) {
+			ath12k_mac_unregister(ag);
+			goto err_mac_destroy;
+		}
 		goto core_pdev_create;
+	}
 
 	ret = ath12k_mac_allocate(ag);
 	if (WARN_ON(ret))