diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c
index db774212161b..4dfb0290b43a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c
@@ -1796,6 +1796,9 @@ void *carl9170_alloc(size_t priv_size)
 		ar->noise[i] = -95; /* ATH_DEFAULT_NOISE_FLOOR */
 
 	hw->wiphy->flags &= ~WIPHY_FLAG_PS_ON_BY_DEFAULT;
+
+	/* As IBSS Encryption is software-based, IBSS RSN is supported. */
+	hw->wiphy->flags |= WIPHY_FLAG_IBSS_RSN;
 	return ar;
 
 err_nomem: