diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/ahb.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/ahb.c
index eaba5a189b7f..ef1038aa5692 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/ahb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/ahb.c
@@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ static int ath11k_ahb_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	ab = ath11k_core_alloc(&pdev->dev);
+	ab = ath11k_core_alloc(&pdev->dev, 0, ATH11K_BUS_AHB);
 	if (!ab) {
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "failed to allocate ath11k base\n");
 		return -ENOMEM;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.c
index 985ea3bcadb9..a91eae6a4e57 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.c
@@ -756,11 +756,12 @@ void ath11k_core_free(struct ath11k_base *ab)
 	kfree(ab);
 }
 
-struct ath11k_base *ath11k_core_alloc(struct device *dev)
+struct ath11k_base *ath11k_core_alloc(struct device *dev, size_t priv_size,
+				      enum ath11k_bus bus)
 {
 	struct ath11k_base *ab;
 
-	ab = kzalloc(sizeof(*ab), GFP_KERNEL);
+	ab = kzalloc(sizeof(*ab) + priv_size, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!ab)
 		return NULL;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.h
index e86513f5b757..e04f0e711779 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.h
@@ -667,6 +667,9 @@ struct ath11k_base {
 
 	/* Round robbin based TCL ring selector */
 	atomic_t tcl_ring_selector;
+
+	/* must be last */
+	u8 drv_priv[0] __aligned(sizeof(void *));
 };
 
 struct ath11k_fw_stats_pdev {
@@ -803,7 +806,8 @@ struct ath11k_peer *ath11k_peer_find_by_id(struct ath11k_base *ab, int peer_id);
 int ath11k_core_qmi_firmware_ready(struct ath11k_base *ab);
 int ath11k_core_init(struct ath11k_base *ath11k);
 void ath11k_core_deinit(struct ath11k_base *ath11k);
-struct ath11k_base *ath11k_core_alloc(struct device *dev);
+struct ath11k_base *ath11k_core_alloc(struct device *dev, size_t priv_size,
+				      enum ath11k_bus bus);
 void ath11k_core_free(struct ath11k_base *ath11k);
 int ath11k_core_fetch_bdf(struct ath11k_base *ath11k,
 			  struct ath11k_board_data *bd);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/hw.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/hw.h
index cdec95644758..dc4434aefbbe 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/hw.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/hw.h
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ enum ath11k_hw_rate_ofdm {
 	ATH11K_HW_RATE_OFDM_9M,
 };
 
+enum ath11k_bus {
+	ATH11K_BUS_AHB,
+	ATH11K_BUS_PCI,
+};
+
 struct ath11k_hw_params {
 	const char *name;
 	struct {