diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c
index 89810b202a391..a62c63ffb3cf4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c
@@ -2495,6 +2495,7 @@ static void ath11k_bss_assoc(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 
 	rcu_read_unlock();
 
+	peer_arg.is_assoc = true;
 	ret = ath11k_wmi_send_peer_assoc_cmd(ar, &peer_arg);
 	if (ret) {
 		ath11k_warn(ar->ab, "failed to run peer assoc for %pM vdev %i: %d\n",
@@ -3772,6 +3773,7 @@ static int ath11k_station_assoc(struct ath11k *ar,
 
 	ath11k_peer_assoc_prepare(ar, vif, sta, &peer_arg, reassoc);
 
+	peer_arg.is_assoc = true;
 	ret = ath11k_wmi_send_peer_assoc_cmd(ar, &peer_arg);
 	if (ret) {
 		ath11k_warn(ar->ab, "failed to run peer assoc for STA %pM vdev %i: %d\n",
@@ -3983,6 +3985,7 @@ static void ath11k_sta_rc_update_wk(struct work_struct *wk)
 			ath11k_peer_assoc_prepare(ar, arvif->vif, sta,
 						  &peer_arg, true);
 
+			peer_arg.is_assoc = false;
 			err = ath11k_wmi_send_peer_assoc_cmd(ar, &peer_arg);
 			if (err)
 				ath11k_warn(ar->ab, "failed to run peer assoc for STA %pM vdev %i: %d\n",
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.c
index b9bfe0407cd7c..44057ccd0140f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.c
@@ -1763,7 +1763,7 @@ ath11k_wmi_copy_peer_flags(struct wmi_peer_assoc_complete_cmd *cmd,
 		cmd->peer_flags |= WMI_PEER_AUTH;
 	if (param->need_ptk_4_way) {
 		cmd->peer_flags |= WMI_PEER_NEED_PTK_4_WAY;
-		if (!hw_crypto_disabled)
+		if (!hw_crypto_disabled && param->is_assoc)
 			cmd->peer_flags &= ~WMI_PEER_AUTH;
 	}
 	if (param->need_gtk_2_way)
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.h
index 93e2992db8624..81d12405be541 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.h
@@ -3617,6 +3617,7 @@ struct peer_assoc_params {
 	u32 peer_he_tx_mcs_set[WMI_HOST_MAX_HE_RATE_SET];
 	bool twt_responder;
 	bool twt_requester;
+	bool is_assoc;
 	struct ath11k_ppe_threshold peer_ppet;
 };