diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.c
index 0ad3c4cf48e1..72cef537da8f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.c
@@ -543,6 +543,8 @@ u32 ath12k_core_get_max_num_tids(struct ath12k_base *ab)
 
 static void ath12k_core_stop(struct ath12k_base *ab)
 {
+	clear_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_CORE_STARTED, &ab->dev_flags);
+	ath12k_dec_num_core_started(ab);
 	ath12k_dp_rx_pdev_reo_cleanup(ab);
 	ath12k_hif_stop(ab);
 	ath12k_wmi_detach(ab);
@@ -667,11 +669,15 @@ static int ath12k_core_pdev_create(struct ath12k_base *ab)
 		return ret;
 	}
 
+	set_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_PDEV_CREATED, &ab->dev_flags);
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
 static void ath12k_core_pdev_destroy(struct ath12k_base *ab)
 {
+	clear_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_PDEV_CREATED, &ab->dev_flags);
+
 	ath12k_dp_pdev_free(ab);
 }
 
@@ -679,6 +685,7 @@ static int ath12k_core_start(struct ath12k_base *ab,
 			     enum ath12k_firmware_mode mode)
 {
 	int ret;
+	lockdep_assert_held(&ab->core_lock);
 
 	ret = ath12k_wmi_attach(ab);
 	if (ret) {
@@ -768,6 +775,11 @@ static int ath12k_core_start(struct ath12k_base *ab,
 		goto err_reo_cleanup;
 	}
 
+	/* Indicate the core start in the appropriate group */
+	ath12k_inc_num_core_started(ab);
+
+	set_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_CORE_STARTED, &ab->dev_flags);
+
 	return 0;
 
 err_reo_cleanup:
@@ -779,6 +791,109 @@ static int ath12k_core_start(struct ath12k_base *ab,
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static void ath12k_core_device_cleanup(struct ath12k_base *ab)
+{
+	mutex_lock(&ab->core_lock);
+
+	if (test_and_clear_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_CORE_HIF_IRQ_ENABLED, &ab->dev_flags))
+		ath12k_hif_irq_disable(ab);
+
+	if (test_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_PDEV_CREATED, &ab->dev_flags))
+		ath12k_core_pdev_destroy(ab);
+
+	if (test_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_REGISTERED, &ab->dev_flags)) {
+		ath12k_mac_unregister(ab);
+		ath12k_mac_destroy(ab);
+	}
+
+	mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
+}
+
+static void ath12k_core_hw_group_stop(struct ath12k_hw_group *ag)
+{
+	struct ath12k_base *ab;
+	int i;
+
+	lockdep_assert_held(&ag->mutex_lock);
+
+	for (i = ag->num_devices - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+		ab = ag->ab[i];
+		if (!ab)
+			continue;
+		ath12k_core_device_cleanup(ab);
+	}
+}
+
+static int ath12k_core_hw_group_start(struct ath12k_hw_group *ag)
+{
+	struct ath12k_base *ab;
+	int ret, i;
+	bool is_registered;
+
+	lockdep_assert_held(&ag->mutex_lock);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < ag->num_devices; i++) {
+		ab = ag->ab[i];
+		if (!ab)
+			continue;
+
+		mutex_lock(&ab->core_lock);
+
+		/* Check if already registered or not, since same flow
+		 * execute for HW restart case.
+		 */
+		is_registered = test_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_REGISTERED, &ab->dev_flags);
+
+		if (is_registered)
+			goto core_pdev_create;
+
+		ret = ath12k_mac_allocate(ab);
+		if (ret) {
+			ath12k_err(ab, "failed to create new hw device with mac80211 :%d\n",
+				   ret);
+			mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
+			return ret;
+		}
+
+		ret = ath12k_mac_register(ab);
+		if (ret) {
+			ath12k_err(ab, "failed to register radio with mac80211: %d\n",
+				   ret);
+			mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
+			goto err;
+		}
+
+core_pdev_create:
+		ret = ath12k_core_pdev_create(ab);
+		if (ret) {
+			ath12k_err(ab, "failed to create pdev core %d\n", ret);
+			mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
+			goto err;
+		}
+
+		ret = ath12k_core_rfkill_config(ab);
+		if (ret && ret != -EOPNOTSUPP) {
+			mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
+			goto err;
+		}
+
+		ath12k_hif_irq_enable(ab);
+
+		set_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_CORE_HIF_IRQ_ENABLED, &ab->dev_flags);
+
+		mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
+	}
+
+	set_bit(ATH12K_GROUP_FLAG_REGISTERED, &ag->flags);
+
+	return 0;
+
+err:
+	ath12k_core_hw_group_stop(ag);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
 static int ath12k_core_start_firmware(struct ath12k_base *ab,
 				      enum ath12k_firmware_mode mode)
 {
@@ -796,9 +911,18 @@ static int ath12k_core_start_firmware(struct ath12k_base *ab,
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static inline
+bool ath12k_core_hw_group_start_ready(struct ath12k_hw_group *ag)
+{
+	lockdep_assert_held(&ag->mutex_lock);
+
+	return (ag->num_started == ag->num_devices);
+}
+
 int ath12k_core_qmi_firmware_ready(struct ath12k_base *ab)
 {
-	int ret;
+	struct ath12k_hw_group *ag;
+	int ret, i;
 
 	ret = ath12k_core_start_firmware(ab, ATH12K_FIRMWARE_MODE_NORMAL);
 	if (ret) {
@@ -818,59 +942,50 @@ int ath12k_core_qmi_firmware_ready(struct ath12k_base *ab)
 		goto err_firmware_stop;
 	}
 
+	ag = ath12k_ab_to_ag(ab);
+
+	mutex_lock(&ag->mutex_lock);
 	mutex_lock(&ab->core_lock);
 	ret = ath12k_core_start(ab, ATH12K_FIRMWARE_MODE_NORMAL);
 	if (ret) {
 		ath12k_err(ab, "failed to start core: %d\n", ret);
 		goto err_dp_free;
 	}
+	mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
 
-	ret = ath12k_mac_allocate(ab);
-	if (ret) {
-		ath12k_err(ab, "failed to create new hw device with mac80211 :%d\n",
-			   ret);
-		goto err_core_stop;
-	}
-
-	ret = ath12k_mac_register(ab);
-	if (ret) {
-		ath12k_err(ab, "failed register the radio with mac80211: %d\n", ret);
-		goto err_mac_destroy;
+	if (ath12k_core_hw_group_start_ready(ag)) {
+		ret = ath12k_core_hw_group_start(ag);
+		if (ret) {
+			ath12k_warn(ab, "unable to start hw group\n");
+			goto err_core_stop;
+		}
+		ath12k_dbg(ab, ATH12K_DBG_BOOT, "group %d started\n", ag->id);
 	}
+	mutex_unlock(&ag->mutex_lock);
 
-	ret = ath12k_core_pdev_create(ab);
-	if (ret) {
-		ath12k_err(ab, "failed to create pdev core: %d\n", ret);
-		goto err_mac_unregister;
-	}
+	return 0;
 
-	ath12k_hif_irq_enable(ab);
+err_core_stop:
+	for (i = ag->num_devices - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+		ab = ag->ab[i];
+		if (!ab)
+			continue;
 
-	ret = ath12k_core_rfkill_config(ab);
-	if (ret && ret != -EOPNOTSUPP) {
-		ath12k_err(ab, "failed to config rfkill: %d\n", ret);
-		goto err_core_pdev_destroy;
+		mutex_lock(&ab->core_lock);
+		if (test_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_CORE_STARTED, &ab->dev_flags))
+			ath12k_core_stop(ab);
+		mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
 	}
+	goto exit;
 
-	mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
-
-	return 0;
-
-err_core_pdev_destroy:
-	ath12k_hif_irq_disable(ab);
-	ath12k_core_pdev_destroy(ab);
-err_mac_unregister:
-	ath12k_mac_unregister(ab);
-err_mac_destroy:
-	ath12k_mac_destroy(ab);
-err_core_stop:
-	ath12k_core_stop(ab);
 err_dp_free:
 	ath12k_dp_free(ab);
 	mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
 err_firmware_stop:
 	ath12k_qmi_firmware_stop(ab);
 
+exit:
+	mutex_unlock(&ag->mutex_lock);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1127,6 +1242,10 @@ static void ath12k_core_reset(struct work_struct *work)
 
 	ath12k_dbg(ab, ATH12K_DBG_BOOT, "reset starting\n");
 
+	mutex_lock(&ab->ag->mutex_lock);
+	ath12k_dec_num_core_started(ab);
+	mutex_unlock(&ab->ag->mutex_lock);
+
 	ab->is_reset = true;
 	atomic_set(&ab->recovery_start_count, 0);
 	reinit_completion(&ab->recovery_start);
@@ -1234,7 +1353,7 @@ static struct ath12k_hw_group *ath12k_core_assign_hw_group(struct ath12k_base *a
 
 void ath12k_core_unassign_hw_group(struct ath12k_base *ab)
 {
-	struct ath12k_hw_group *ag = ab->ag;
+	struct ath12k_hw_group *ag = ath12k_ab_to_ag(ab);
 	u8 device_id = ab->device_id;
 	int num_probed;
 
@@ -1268,19 +1387,6 @@ void ath12k_core_unassign_hw_group(struct ath12k_base *ab)
 		ath12k_core_hw_group_free(ag);
 }
 
-static void ath12k_core_device_cleanup(struct ath12k_base *ab)
-{
-	mutex_lock(&ab->core_lock);
-
-	ath12k_hif_irq_disable(ab);
-	ath12k_core_pdev_destroy(ab);
-	ath12k_mac_unregister(ab);
-	ath12k_mac_destroy(ab);
-	ath12k_core_stop(ab);
-
-	mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
-}
-
 static void ath12k_core_hw_group_destroy(struct ath12k_hw_group *ag)
 {
 	struct ath12k_base *ab;
@@ -1291,13 +1397,20 @@ static void ath12k_core_hw_group_destroy(struct ath12k_hw_group *ag)
 
 	mutex_lock(&ag->mutex_lock);
 
+	if (test_and_clear_bit(ATH12K_GROUP_FLAG_REGISTERED, &ag->flags))
+		ath12k_core_hw_group_stop(ag);
+
 	for (i = 0; i < ag->num_devices; i++) {
 		ab = ag->ab[i];
 		if (!ab)
 			continue;
 
-		if (test_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_QMI_FW_READY_COMPLETE, &ab->dev_flags))
-			ath12k_core_device_cleanup(ab);
+		mutex_lock(&ab->core_lock);
+
+		if (test_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_CORE_STARTED, &ab->dev_flags))
+			ath12k_core_stop(ab);
+
+		mutex_unlock(&ab->core_lock);
 
 		if (test_and_clear_bit(ATH12K_FLAG_HW_GROUP_ATTACHED, &ab->dev_flags))
 			ath12k_core_soc_destroy(ab);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.h
index fd3e4e66d27c..10a09ddb7bc5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/core.h
@@ -200,6 +200,10 @@ enum ath12k_scan_state {
 	ATH12K_SCAN_ABORTING,
 };
 
+enum ath12k_hw_group_flags {
+	ATH12K_GROUP_FLAG_REGISTERED,
+};
+
 enum ath12k_dev_flags {
 	ATH12K_CAC_RUNNING,
 	ATH12K_FLAG_CRASH_FLUSH,
@@ -214,6 +218,9 @@ enum ath12k_dev_flags {
 	ATH12K_FLAG_EXT_IRQ_ENABLED,
 	ATH12K_FLAG_QMI_FW_READY_COMPLETE,
 	ATH12K_FLAG_HW_GROUP_ATTACHED,
+	ATH12K_FLAG_PDEV_CREATED,
+	ATH12K_FLAG_CORE_STARTED,
+	ATH12K_FLAG_CORE_HIF_IRQ_ENABLED,
 };
 
 enum ath12k_monitor_flags {
@@ -734,6 +741,8 @@ struct ath12k_hw_group {
 	u8 id;
 	u8 num_devices;
 	u8 num_probed;
+	u8 num_started;
+	unsigned long flags;
 	struct ath12k_base *ab[ATH12K_MAX_SOCS];
 	/* To synchronize group create, assign, start, stop */
 	struct mutex mutex_lock;
@@ -1064,4 +1073,27 @@ static inline int ath12k_get_num_hw(struct ath12k_base *ab)
 {
 	return ab->num_hw;
 }
+
+static inline
+struct ath12k_hw_group *ath12k_ab_to_ag(struct ath12k_base *ab)
+{
+	return ab->ag;
+}
+
+static inline
+void ath12k_inc_num_core_started(struct ath12k_base *ab)
+{
+	lockdep_assert_held(&ab->ag->mutex_lock);
+
+	ab->ag->num_started++;
+}
+
+static inline
+void ath12k_dec_num_core_started(struct ath12k_base *ab)
+{
+	lockdep_assert_held(&ab->ag->mutex_lock);
+
+	ab->ag->num_started--;
+}
+
 #endif /* _CORE_H_ */
