diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
index 5f0c66bb6bdf..88bed02f7521 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
@@ -1487,14 +1487,14 @@ static int ath6kl_cfg80211_set_power_mgmt(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static struct net_device *ath6kl_cfg80211_add_iface(struct wiphy *wiphy,
-						    char *name,
-						    enum nl80211_iftype type,
-						    u32 *flags,
-						    struct vif_params *params)
+static struct wireless_dev *ath6kl_cfg80211_add_iface(struct wiphy *wiphy,
+						      char *name,
+						      enum nl80211_iftype type,
+						      u32 *flags,
+						      struct vif_params *params)
 {
 	struct ath6kl *ar = wiphy_priv(wiphy);
-	struct net_device *ndev;
+	struct wireless_dev *wdev;
 	u8 if_idx, nw_type;
 
 	if (ar->num_vif == ar->vif_max) {
@@ -1507,20 +1507,20 @@ static struct net_device *ath6kl_cfg80211_add_iface(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 	}
 
-	ndev = ath6kl_interface_add(ar, name, type, if_idx, nw_type);
-	if (!ndev)
+	wdev = ath6kl_interface_add(ar, name, type, if_idx, nw_type);
+	if (!wdev)
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 
 	ar->num_vif++;
 
-	return ndev;
+	return wdev;
 }
 
 static int ath6kl_cfg80211_del_iface(struct wiphy *wiphy,
-				     struct net_device *ndev)
+				     struct wireless_dev *wdev)
 {
 	struct ath6kl *ar = wiphy_priv(wiphy);
-	struct ath6kl_vif *vif = netdev_priv(ndev);
+	struct ath6kl_vif *vif = netdev_priv(wdev->netdev);
 
 	spin_lock_bh(&ar->list_lock);
 	list_del(&vif->list);
@@ -3477,9 +3477,9 @@ void ath6kl_cfg80211_vif_cleanup(struct ath6kl_vif *vif)
 	ar->num_vif--;
 }
 
-struct net_device *ath6kl_interface_add(struct ath6kl *ar, char *name,
-					enum nl80211_iftype type, u8 fw_vif_idx,
-					u8 nw_type)
+struct wireless_dev *ath6kl_interface_add(struct ath6kl *ar, char *name,
+					  enum nl80211_iftype type,
+					  u8 fw_vif_idx, u8 nw_type)
 {
 	struct net_device *ndev;
 	struct ath6kl_vif *vif;
@@ -3533,7 +3533,7 @@ struct net_device *ath6kl_interface_add(struct ath6kl *ar, char *name,
 	list_add_tail(&vif->list, &ar->vif_list);
 	spin_unlock_bh(&ar->list_lock);
 
-	return ndev;
+	return &vif->wdev;
 
 err:
 	aggr_module_destroy(vif->aggr_cntxt);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.h
index b992046a1b0e..56b1ebe79812 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.h
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ enum ath6kl_cfg_suspend_mode {
 	ATH6KL_CFG_SUSPEND_SCHED_SCAN,
 };
 
-struct net_device *ath6kl_interface_add(struct ath6kl *ar, char *name,
-					enum nl80211_iftype type,
-					u8 fw_vif_idx, u8 nw_type);
+struct wireless_dev *ath6kl_interface_add(struct ath6kl *ar, char *name,
+					  enum nl80211_iftype type,
+					  u8 fw_vif_idx, u8 nw_type);
 void ath6kl_cfg80211_ch_switch_notify(struct ath6kl_vif *vif, int freq,
 				      enum wmi_phy_mode mode);
 void ath6kl_cfg80211_scan_complete_event(struct ath6kl_vif *vif, bool aborted);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/core.c
index fdb3b1decc76..82c4dd2a960e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/core.c
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(ath6kl_core_rx_complete);
 int ath6kl_core_init(struct ath6kl *ar, enum ath6kl_htc_type htc_type)
 {
 	struct ath6kl_bmi_target_info targ_info;
-	struct net_device *ndev;
+	struct wireless_dev *wdev;
 	int ret = 0, i;
 
 	switch (htc_type) {
@@ -187,12 +187,12 @@ int ath6kl_core_init(struct ath6kl *ar, enum ath6kl_htc_type htc_type)
 	rtnl_lock();
 
 	/* Add an initial station interface */
-	ndev = ath6kl_interface_add(ar, "wlan%d", NL80211_IFTYPE_STATION, 0,
+	wdev = ath6kl_interface_add(ar, "wlan%d", NL80211_IFTYPE_STATION, 0,
 				    INFRA_NETWORK);
 
 	rtnl_unlock();
 
-	if (!ndev) {
+	if (!wdev) {
 		ath6kl_err("Failed to instantiate a network device\n");
 		ret = -ENOMEM;
 		wiphy_unregister(ar->wiphy);
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ int ath6kl_core_init(struct ath6kl *ar, enum ath6kl_htc_type htc_type)
 	}
 
 	ath6kl_dbg(ATH6KL_DBG_TRC, "%s: name=%s dev=0x%p, ar=0x%p\n",
-		   __func__, ndev->name, ndev, ar);
+		   __func__, wdev->netdev->name, wdev->netdev, ar);
 
 	return ret;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/cfg80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/cfg80211.c
index 9c2e08e4b093..1e8024ea6910 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/cfg80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/cfg80211.c
@@ -1512,11 +1512,11 @@ mwifiex_setup_ht_caps(struct ieee80211_sta_ht_cap *ht_info,
 /*
  *  create a new virtual interface with the given name
  */
-struct net_device *mwifiex_add_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy,
-					    char *name,
-					    enum nl80211_iftype type,
-					    u32 *flags,
-					    struct vif_params *params)
+struct wireless_dev *mwifiex_add_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy,
+					      char *name,
+					      enum nl80211_iftype type,
+					      u32 *flags,
+					      struct vif_params *params)
 {
 	struct mwifiex_adapter *adapter = mwifiex_cfg80211_get_adapter(wiphy);
 	struct mwifiex_private *priv;
@@ -1634,7 +1634,7 @@ struct net_device *mwifiex_add_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
 	mwifiex_dev_debugfs_init(priv);
 #endif
-	return dev;
+	return wdev;
 error:
 	if (dev && (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNREGISTERED))
 		free_netdev(dev);
@@ -1647,9 +1647,9 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(mwifiex_add_virtual_intf);
 /*
  * del_virtual_intf: remove the virtual interface determined by dev
  */
-int mwifiex_del_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *dev)
+int mwifiex_del_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct wireless_dev *wdev)
 {
-	struct mwifiex_private *priv = mwifiex_netdev_get_priv(dev);
+	struct mwifiex_private *priv = mwifiex_netdev_get_priv(wdev->netdev);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
 	mwifiex_dev_debugfs_remove(priv);
@@ -1661,11 +1661,11 @@ int mwifiex_del_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *dev)
 	if (netif_carrier_ok(priv->netdev))
 		netif_carrier_off(priv->netdev);
 
-	if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_REGISTERED)
-		unregister_netdevice(dev);
+	if (wdev->netdev->reg_state == NETREG_REGISTERED)
+		unregister_netdevice(wdev->netdev);
 
-	if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNREGISTERED)
-		free_netdev(dev);
+	if (wdev->netdev->reg_state == NETREG_UNREGISTERED)
+		free_netdev(wdev->netdev);
 
 	/* Clear the priv in adapter */
 	priv->netdev = NULL;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/main.c
index f0219efc8953..46803621d015 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/main.c
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ static void mwifiex_fw_dpc(const struct firmware *firmware, void *context)
 	goto done;
 
 err_add_intf:
-	mwifiex_del_virtual_intf(adapter->wiphy, priv->netdev);
+	mwifiex_del_virtual_intf(adapter->wiphy, priv->wdev);
 	rtnl_unlock();
 err_init_fw:
 	pr_debug("info: %s: unregister device\n", __func__);
@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ int mwifiex_remove_card(struct mwifiex_adapter *adapter, struct semaphore *sem)
 
 		rtnl_lock();
 		if (priv->wdev && priv->netdev)
-			mwifiex_del_virtual_intf(adapter->wiphy, priv->netdev);
+			mwifiex_del_virtual_intf(adapter->wiphy, priv->wdev);
 		rtnl_unlock();
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/main.h b/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/main.h
index 0b3b5aa9830d..434a90e46934 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/main.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mwifiex/main.h
@@ -1005,10 +1005,12 @@ int mwifiex_update_bss_desc_with_ie(struct mwifiex_adapter *adapter,
 int mwifiex_check_network_compatibility(struct mwifiex_private *priv,
 					struct mwifiex_bssdescriptor *bss_desc);
 
-struct net_device *mwifiex_add_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy,
-					char *name, enum nl80211_iftype type,
-					u32 *flags, struct vif_params *params);
-int mwifiex_del_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *dev);
+struct wireless_dev *mwifiex_add_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy,
+					      char *name,
+					      enum nl80211_iftype type,
+					      u32 *flags,
+					      struct vif_params *params);
+int mwifiex_del_virtual_intf(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct wireless_dev *wdev);
 
 void mwifiex_set_sys_config_invalid_data(struct mwifiex_uap_bss_param *config);
 
diff --git a/include/net/cfg80211.h b/include/net/cfg80211.h
index 7eaaee7bb07d..aaaa3a255ed5 100644
--- a/include/net/cfg80211.h
+++ b/include/net/cfg80211.h
@@ -1435,10 +1435,10 @@ struct cfg80211_gtk_rekey_data {
  *
  * @add_virtual_intf: create a new virtual interface with the given name,
  *	must set the struct wireless_dev's iftype. Beware: You must create
- *	the new netdev in the wiphy's network namespace! Returns the netdev,
- *	or an ERR_PTR.
+ *	the new netdev in the wiphy's network namespace! Returns the struct
+ *	wireless_dev, or an ERR_PTR.
  *
- * @del_virtual_intf: remove the virtual interface determined by ifindex.
+ * @del_virtual_intf: remove the virtual interface
  *
  * @change_virtual_intf: change type/configuration of virtual interface,
  *	keep the struct wireless_dev's iftype updated.
@@ -1617,12 +1617,13 @@ struct cfg80211_ops {
 	int	(*resume)(struct wiphy *wiphy);
 	void	(*set_wakeup)(struct wiphy *wiphy, bool enabled);
 
-	struct net_device * (*add_virtual_intf)(struct wiphy *wiphy,
-						char *name,
-						enum nl80211_iftype type,
-						u32 *flags,
-						struct vif_params *params);
-	int	(*del_virtual_intf)(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *dev);
+	struct wireless_dev * (*add_virtual_intf)(struct wiphy *wiphy,
+						  char *name,
+						  enum nl80211_iftype type,
+						  u32 *flags,
+						  struct vif_params *params);
+	int	(*del_virtual_intf)(struct wiphy *wiphy,
+				    struct wireless_dev *wdev);
 	int	(*change_virtual_intf)(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 				       struct net_device *dev,
 				       enum nl80211_iftype type, u32 *flags,
diff --git a/net/mac80211/cfg.c b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
index 7d9abea37b17..a752c7341d62 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/cfg.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
@@ -20,31 +20,31 @@
 #include "rate.h"
 #include "mesh.h"
 
-static struct net_device *ieee80211_add_iface(struct wiphy *wiphy, char *name,
-					      enum nl80211_iftype type,
-					      u32 *flags,
-					      struct vif_params *params)
+static struct wireless_dev *ieee80211_add_iface(struct wiphy *wiphy, char *name,
+						enum nl80211_iftype type,
+						u32 *flags,
+						struct vif_params *params)
 {
 	struct ieee80211_local *local = wiphy_priv(wiphy);
-	struct net_device *dev;
+	struct wireless_dev *wdev;
 	struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata;
 	int err;
 
-	err = ieee80211_if_add(local, name, &dev, type, params);
+	err = ieee80211_if_add(local, name, &wdev, type, params);
 	if (err)
 		return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 	if (type == NL80211_IFTYPE_MONITOR && flags) {
-		sdata = IEEE80211_DEV_TO_SUB_IF(dev);
+		sdata = IEEE80211_WDEV_TO_SUB_IF(wdev);
 		sdata->u.mntr_flags = *flags;
 	}
 
-	return dev;
+	return wdev;
 }
 
-static int ieee80211_del_iface(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *dev)
+static int ieee80211_del_iface(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct wireless_dev *wdev)
 {
-	ieee80211_if_remove(IEEE80211_DEV_TO_SUB_IF(dev));
+	ieee80211_if_remove(IEEE80211_WDEV_TO_SUB_IF(wdev));
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
index 8f8535ee5995..c3241c3ec6d1 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
+++ b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
@@ -1284,7 +1284,7 @@ void ieee80211_handle_roc_started(struct ieee80211_roc_work *roc);
 int ieee80211_iface_init(void);
 void ieee80211_iface_exit(void);
 int ieee80211_if_add(struct ieee80211_local *local, const char *name,
-		     struct net_device **new_dev, enum nl80211_iftype type,
+		     struct wireless_dev **new_wdev, enum nl80211_iftype type,
 		     struct vif_params *params);
 int ieee80211_if_change_type(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 			     enum nl80211_iftype type);
diff --git a/net/mac80211/iface.c b/net/mac80211/iface.c
index fbef7a1ada7a..b1edf60fbba7 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/iface.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/iface.c
@@ -1373,7 +1373,7 @@ static void ieee80211_assign_perm_addr(struct ieee80211_local *local,
 }
 
 int ieee80211_if_add(struct ieee80211_local *local, const char *name,
-		     struct net_device **new_dev, enum nl80211_iftype type,
+		     struct wireless_dev **new_wdev, enum nl80211_iftype type,
 		     struct vif_params *params)
 {
 	struct net_device *ndev;
@@ -1463,8 +1463,8 @@ int ieee80211_if_add(struct ieee80211_local *local, const char *name,
 	list_add_tail_rcu(&sdata->list, &local->interfaces);
 	mutex_unlock(&local->iflist_mtx);
 
-	if (new_dev)
-		*new_dev = ndev;
+	if (new_wdev)
+		*new_wdev = &sdata->wdev;
 
 	return 0;
 
diff --git a/net/wireless/nl80211.c b/net/wireless/nl80211.c
index 0dc3356eea40..789d0c7b287e 100644
--- a/net/wireless/nl80211.c
+++ b/net/wireless/nl80211.c
@@ -1971,7 +1971,7 @@ static int nl80211_new_interface(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 {
 	struct cfg80211_registered_device *rdev = info->user_ptr[0];
 	struct vif_params params;
-	struct net_device *dev;
+	struct wireless_dev *wdev;
 	int err;
 	enum nl80211_iftype type = NL80211_IFTYPE_UNSPECIFIED;
 	u32 flags;
@@ -2001,16 +2001,14 @@ static int nl80211_new_interface(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 	err = parse_monitor_flags(type == NL80211_IFTYPE_MONITOR ?
 				  info->attrs[NL80211_ATTR_MNTR_FLAGS] : NULL,
 				  &flags);
-	dev = rdev->ops->add_virtual_intf(&rdev->wiphy,
+	wdev = rdev->ops->add_virtual_intf(&rdev->wiphy,
 		nla_data(info->attrs[NL80211_ATTR_IFNAME]),
 		type, err ? NULL : &flags, &params);
-	if (IS_ERR(dev))
-		return PTR_ERR(dev);
+	if (IS_ERR(wdev))
+		return PTR_ERR(wdev);
 
 	if (type == NL80211_IFTYPE_MESH_POINT &&
 	    info->attrs[NL80211_ATTR_MESH_ID]) {
-		struct wireless_dev *wdev = dev->ieee80211_ptr;
-
 		wdev_lock(wdev);
 		BUILD_BUG_ON(IEEE80211_MAX_SSID_LEN !=
 			     IEEE80211_MAX_MESH_ID_LEN);
@@ -2027,12 +2025,22 @@ static int nl80211_new_interface(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 static int nl80211_del_interface(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 {
 	struct cfg80211_registered_device *rdev = info->user_ptr[0];
-	struct net_device *dev = info->user_ptr[1];
+	struct wireless_dev *wdev = info->user_ptr[1];
 
 	if (!rdev->ops->del_virtual_intf)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 
-	return rdev->ops->del_virtual_intf(&rdev->wiphy, dev);
+	/*
+	 * If we remove a wireless device without a netdev then clear
+	 * user_ptr[1] so that nl80211_post_doit won't dereference it
+	 * to check if it needs to do dev_put(). Otherwise it crashes
+	 * since the wdev has been freed, unlike with a netdev where
+	 * we need the dev_put() for the netdev to really be freed.
+	 */
+	if (!wdev->netdev)
+		info->user_ptr[1] = NULL;
+
+	return rdev->ops->del_virtual_intf(&rdev->wiphy, wdev);
 }
 
 static int nl80211_set_noack_map(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
@@ -6874,7 +6882,7 @@ static struct genl_ops nl80211_ops[] = {
 		.doit = nl80211_del_interface,
 		.policy = nl80211_policy,
 		.flags = GENL_ADMIN_PERM,
-		.internal_flags = NL80211_FLAG_NEED_NETDEV |
+		.internal_flags = NL80211_FLAG_NEED_WDEV |
 				  NL80211_FLAG_NEED_RTNL,
 	},
 	{