diff --git a/include/net/mac80211.h b/include/net/mac80211.h
index fe8b9dae4dee..47316a653ae1 100644
--- a/include/net/mac80211.h
+++ b/include/net/mac80211.h
@@ -1109,7 +1109,10 @@ enum ieee80211_hw_flags {
  * @sta_data_size: size (in bytes) of the drv_priv data area
  *	within &struct ieee80211_sta.
  *
- * @max_rates: maximum number of alternate rate retry stages
+ * @max_rates: maximum number of alternate rate retry stages the hw
+ *	can handle.
+ * @max_report_rates: maximum number of alternate rate retry stages
+ *	the hw can report back.
  * @max_rate_tries: maximum number of tries for each stage
  *
  * @napi_weight: weight used for NAPI polling.  You must specify an
@@ -1131,6 +1134,7 @@ struct ieee80211_hw {
 	u16 max_listen_interval;
 	s8 max_signal;
 	u8 max_rates;
+	u8 max_report_rates;
 	u8 max_rate_tries;
 };
 
diff --git a/net/mac80211/main.c b/net/mac80211/main.c
index e127fbb8424e..9c2f3f934c74 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/main.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/main.c
@@ -537,6 +537,7 @@ struct ieee80211_hw *ieee80211_alloc_hw(size_t priv_data_len,
 	/* set up some defaults */
 	local->hw.queues = 1;
 	local->hw.max_rates = 1;
+	local->hw.max_report_rates = 0;
 	local->hw.conf.long_frame_max_tx_count = wiphy->retry_long;
 	local->hw.conf.short_frame_max_tx_count = wiphy->retry_short;
 	local->user_power_level = -1;
@@ -612,6 +613,9 @@ int ieee80211_register_hw(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 		WLAN_CIPHER_SUITE_AES_CMAC
 	};
 
+	if (hw->max_report_rates == 0)
+		hw->max_report_rates = hw->max_rates;
+
 	/*
 	 * generic code guarantees at least one band,
 	 * set this very early because much code assumes
diff --git a/net/mac80211/status.c b/net/mac80211/status.c
index dd85006c4fe8..95763e036975 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/status.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/status.c
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ void ieee80211_tx_status(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct sk_buff *skb)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < IEEE80211_TX_MAX_RATES; i++) {
 		/* the HW cannot have attempted that rate */
-		if (i >= hw->max_rates) {
+		if (i >= hw->max_report_rates) {
 			info->status.rates[i].idx = -1;
 			info->status.rates[i].count = 0;
 		} else if (info->status.rates[i].idx >= 0) {