--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath9k/hw.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath9k/hw.c
@@ -493,11 +493,18 @@ static int ath9k_hw_init_macaddr(struct 
 		ah->macaddr[2 * i] = eeval >> 8;
 		ah->macaddr[2 * i + 1] = eeval & 0xff;
 	}
-	if (sum == 0 || sum == 0xffff * 3) {
+
+	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(ah->macaddr)) {
+		DECLARE_MAC_BUF(macbuf);
+
+		DPRINTF(ah->ah_sc, ATH_DBG_EEPROM,
+			"eeprom contains invalid mac address: %s\n",
+			print_mac(macbuf, ah->macaddr));
+
+		random_ether_addr(ah->macaddr);
 		DPRINTF(ah->ah_sc, ATH_DBG_EEPROM,
-			"mac address read failed: %pM\n",
-			ah->macaddr);
-		return -EADDRNOTAVAIL;
+			"random mac address will be used: %s\n",
+			print_mac(macbuf, ah->macaddr));
 	}
 
 	return 0;