diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/carl9170.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/carl9170.h
index c5427a72a1e2..f7dbdaa74c63 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/carl9170.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/carl9170.h
@@ -282,6 +282,7 @@ struct ar9170 {
 		bool rx_stream;
 		bool tx_stream;
 		bool rx_filter;
+		bool hw_counters;
 		unsigned int mem_blocks;
 		unsigned int mem_block_size;
 		unsigned int rx_size;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/fw.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/fw.c
index 39ddea5794f7..f4cae1cccbff 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/fw.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/fw.c
@@ -266,6 +266,9 @@ static int carl9170_fw(struct ar9170 *ar, const __u8 *data, size_t len)
 			FIF_PROMISC_IN_BSS;
 	}
 
+	if (SUPP(CARL9170FW_HW_COUNTERS))
+		ar->fw.hw_counters = true;
+
 	if (SUPP(CARL9170FW_WOL))
 		device_set_wakeup_enable(&ar->udev->dev, true);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/phy.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/phy.c
index aa147a9120b6..8635c5c8463c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/phy.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/phy.c
@@ -578,11 +578,10 @@ static int carl9170_init_phy(struct ar9170 *ar, enum ieee80211_band band)
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 
-	/* XXX: remove magic! */
-	if (is_2ghz)
-		err = carl9170_write_reg(ar, AR9170_PWR_REG_PLL_ADDAC, 0x5163);
-	else
-		err = carl9170_write_reg(ar, AR9170_PWR_REG_PLL_ADDAC, 0x5143);
+	if (!ar->fw.hw_counters) {
+		err = carl9170_write_reg(ar, AR9170_PWR_REG_PLL_ADDAC,
+					 is_2ghz ? 0x5163 : 0x5143);
+	}
 
 	return err;
 }