struct net_device *dev;
        enum ieee80211_if_types itype;
        struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata;
+       int ret;
 
        /* we're under RTNL */
        dev = __dev_get_by_index(&init_net, ifindex);
        if (!dev)
                return -ENODEV;
 
-       if (netif_running(dev))
-               return -EBUSY;
-
        itype = nl80211_type_to_mac80211_type(type);
        if (itype == IEEE80211_IF_TYPE_INVALID)
                return -EINVAL;
 
        sdata = IEEE80211_DEV_TO_SUB_IF(dev);
 
-       ieee80211_if_change_type(sdata, itype);
+       ret = ieee80211_if_change_type(sdata, itype);
+       if (ret)
+               return ret;
 
        if (ieee80211_vif_is_mesh(&sdata->vif) && params->mesh_id_len)
                ieee80211_if_sta_set_mesh_id(&sdata->u.sta,
 
 int ieee80211_if_add(struct ieee80211_local *local, const char *name,
                     struct net_device **new_dev, enum ieee80211_if_types type,
                     struct vif_params *params);
-void ieee80211_if_change_type(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
-                             enum ieee80211_if_types type);
+int ieee80211_if_change_type(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
+                            enum ieee80211_if_types type);
 void ieee80211_if_remove(struct net_device *dev);
 void ieee80211_remove_interfaces(struct ieee80211_local *local);
 
 
        ieee80211_debugfs_add_netdev(sdata);
 }
 
-void ieee80211_if_change_type(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
-                             enum ieee80211_if_types type)
+int ieee80211_if_change_type(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
+                            enum ieee80211_if_types type)
 {
+       ASSERT_RTNL();
+
+       if (type == sdata->vif.type)
+               return 0;
+
+       /*
+        * We could, here, on changes between IBSS/STA/MESH modes,
+        * invoke an MLME function instead that disassociates etc.
+        * and goes into the requested mode.
+        */
+
+       if (netif_running(sdata->dev))
+               return -EBUSY;
+
        /* Purge and reset type-dependent state. */
        ieee80211_teardown_sdata(sdata->dev);
        ieee80211_setup_sdata(sdata, type);
        sdata->basic_rates = 0;
        sdata->drop_unencrypted = 0;
        sdata->sequence = 0;
+
+       return 0;
 }
 
 int ieee80211_if_add(struct ieee80211_local *local, const char *name,
 
                return -EINVAL;
        }
 
-       if (type == sdata->vif.type)
-               return 0;
-       if (netif_running(dev))
-               return -EBUSY;
-
-       ieee80211_if_change_type(sdata, type);
-
-       return 0;
+       return ieee80211_if_change_type(sdata, type);
 }