--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hw.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hw.c
@@ -1911,6 +1911,34 @@ static void ath9k_enable_rfkill(struct a
 	REG_SET_BIT(ah, AR_PHY_TEST, RFSILENT_BB);
 }
 
+bool ath9k_hw_check_alive(struct ath_hw *ah)
+{
+	int count = 50;
+	u32 reg;
+
+	if (AR_SREV_9285_10_OR_LATER(ah))
+		return true;
+
+	do {
+		reg = REG_READ(ah, AR_OBS_BUS_1);
+
+		if ((reg & 0x7E7FFFEF) == 0x00702400)
+			continue;
+
+		switch (reg & 0x7E000B00) {
+		case 0x1E000000:
+		case 0x52000B00:
+		case 0x18000B00:
+			continue;
+		default:
+			return true;
+		}
+	} while (count-- > 0);
+
+	return false;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(ath9k_hw_check_alive);
+
 int ath9k_hw_reset(struct ath_hw *ah, struct ath9k_channel *chan,
 		    bool bChannelChange)
 {
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hw.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hw.h
@@ -679,6 +679,7 @@ void ath9k_hw_set11nmac2040(struct ath_h
 void ath9k_hw_beaconinit(struct ath_hw *ah, u32 next_beacon, u32 beacon_period);
 void ath9k_hw_set_sta_beacon_timers(struct ath_hw *ah,
 				    const struct ath9k_beacon_state *bs);
+bool ath9k_hw_check_alive(struct ath_hw *ah);
 
 bool ath9k_hw_setpower(struct ath_hw *ah, enum ath9k_power_mode mode);
 
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/main.c
@@ -405,7 +405,8 @@ void ath9k_tasklet(unsigned long data)
 
 	ath9k_ps_wakeup(sc);
 
-	if (status & ATH9K_INT_FATAL) {
+	if ((status & ATH9K_INT_FATAL) ||
+	    !ath9k_hw_check_alive(ah)) {
 		ath_reset(sc, false);
 		ath9k_ps_restore(sc);
 		return;