diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/b43/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/b43/main.c
index c79e6638c88d..e4d6dc2e37d1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/b43/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/b43/main.c
@@ -4827,8 +4827,14 @@ static int b43_op_start(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
  out_mutex_unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&wl->mutex);
 
-	/* reload configuration */
-	b43_op_config(hw, ~0);
+	/*
+	 * Configuration may have been overwritten during initialization.
+	 * Reload the configuration, but only if initialization was
+	 * successful. Reloading the configuration after a failed init
+	 * may hang the system.
+	 */
+	if (!err)
+		b43_op_config(hw, ~0);
 
 	return err;
 }