diff --git a/net/wireless/nl80211.c b/net/wireless/nl80211.c
index c7bbe5f0aae8..351eeaf16abe 100644
--- a/net/wireless/nl80211.c
+++ b/net/wireless/nl80211.c
@@ -6231,7 +6231,7 @@ do {									    \
 				  nl80211_check_s32);
 	/*
 	 * Check HT operation mode based on
-	 * IEEE 802.11 2012 8.4.2.59 HT Operation element.
+	 * IEEE 802.11-2016 9.4.2.57 HT Operation element.
 	 */
 	if (tb[NL80211_MESHCONF_HT_OPMODE]) {
 		ht_opmode = nla_get_u16(tb[NL80211_MESHCONF_HT_OPMODE]);
@@ -6241,22 +6241,9 @@ do {									    \
 				  IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_NON_HT_STA_PRSNT))
 			return -EINVAL;
 
-		if ((ht_opmode & IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_NON_GF_STA_PRSNT) &&
-		    (ht_opmode & IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_NON_HT_STA_PRSNT))
-			return -EINVAL;
+		/* NON_HT_STA bit is reserved, but some programs set it */
+		ht_opmode &= ~IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_NON_HT_STA_PRSNT;
 
-		switch (ht_opmode & IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_PROTECTION) {
-		case IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_PROTECTION_NONE:
-		case IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_PROTECTION_20MHZ:
-			if (ht_opmode & IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_NON_HT_STA_PRSNT)
-				return -EINVAL;
-			break;
-		case IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_PROTECTION_NONMEMBER:
-		case IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_PROTECTION_NONHT_MIXED:
-			if (!(ht_opmode & IEEE80211_HT_OP_MODE_NON_HT_STA_PRSNT))
-				return -EINVAL;
-			break;
-		}
 		cfg->ht_opmode = ht_opmode;
 		mask |= (1 << (NL80211_MESHCONF_HT_OPMODE - 1));
 	}