diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_main.c
index a82ad739ab80..791f6633667c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_main.c
@@ -1674,7 +1674,7 @@ static int ath9k_htc_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START:
 		ret = ath9k_htc_tx_aggr_oper(priv, vif, sta, action, tid);
 		if (!ret)
-			ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
+			ret = IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_FLUSH:
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/main.c
index 34121fbf32e3..0548aa3702e3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/main.c
@@ -1921,7 +1921,7 @@ static int ath9k_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		ath9k_ps_wakeup(sc);
 		ret = ath_tx_aggr_start(sc, sta, tid, ssn);
 		if (!ret)
-			ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
+			ret = IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 		ath9k_ps_restore(sc);
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_FLUSH:
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c
index 40a8054f8aa6..5914926a5c5b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/main.c
@@ -1449,8 +1449,7 @@ static int carl9170_op_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		rcu_assign_pointer(sta_info->agg[tid], tid_info);
 		spin_unlock_bh(&ar->tx_ampdu_list_lock);
 
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
-		break;
+		return IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_FLUSH:
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/wcn36xx/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/wcn36xx/main.c
index 79998a3ddb7a..a276dae30887 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/wcn36xx/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/wcn36xx/main.c
@@ -1084,6 +1084,7 @@ static int wcn36xx_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 	enum ieee80211_ampdu_mlme_action action = params->action;
 	u16 tid = params->tid;
 	u16 *ssn = &params->ssn;
+	int ret = 0;
 
 	wcn36xx_dbg(WCN36XX_DBG_MAC, "mac ampdu action action %d tid %d\n",
 		    action, tid);
@@ -1106,7 +1107,7 @@ static int wcn36xx_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		sta_priv->ampdu_state[tid] = WCN36XX_AMPDU_START;
 		spin_unlock_bh(&sta_priv->ampdu_lock);
 
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
+		ret = IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_OPERATIONAL:
 		spin_lock_bh(&sta_priv->ampdu_lock);
@@ -1131,7 +1132,7 @@ static int wcn36xx_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 
 	mutex_unlock(&wcn->conf_mutex);
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static const struct ieee80211_ops wcn36xx_ops = {
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c b/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c
index 6188275b17e5..8e8b685cfe09 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c
@@ -850,8 +850,7 @@ brcms_ops_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 				     "START: tid %d is not agg\'able\n", tid);
 			return -EINVAL;
 		}
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
-		break;
+		return IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_FLUSH:
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlegacy/4965-mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlegacy/4965-mac.c
index ffb705b18fb1..51fdd7ce30af 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlegacy/4965-mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlegacy/4965-mac.c
@@ -2265,7 +2265,7 @@ il4965_tx_agg_start(struct il_priv *il, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 	if (tid_data->tfds_in_queue == 0) {
 		D_HT("HW queue is empty\n");
 		tid_data->agg.state = IL_AGG_ON;
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
+		ret = IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 	} else {
 		D_HT("HW queue is NOT empty: %d packets in HW queue\n",
 		     tid_data->tfds_in_queue);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/dvm/tx.c b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/dvm/tx.c
index 3029e3f6de63..cd73fc5cfcbb 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/dvm/tx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/dvm/tx.c
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ int iwlagn_tx_agg_start(struct iwl_priv *priv, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 		IWL_DEBUG_TX_QUEUES(priv, "Can proceed: ssn = next_recl = %d\n",
 				    tid_data->agg.ssn);
 		tid_data->agg.state = IWL_AGG_STARTING;
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
+		ret = IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 	} else {
 		IWL_DEBUG_TX_QUEUES(priv, "Can't proceed: ssn %d, "
 				    "next_reclaimed = %d\n",
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/sta.c b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/sta.c
index 0bedba4c61f2..1d6bc62b104c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/sta.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/sta.c
@@ -2818,13 +2818,12 @@ int iwl_mvm_sta_tx_agg_start(struct iwl_mvm *mvm, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 
 	if (normalized_ssn == tid_data->next_reclaimed) {
 		tid_data->state = IWL_AGG_STARTING;
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
+		ret = IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 	} else {
 		tid_data->state = IWL_EMPTYING_HW_QUEUE_ADDBA;
+		ret = 0;
 	}
 
-	ret = 0;
-
 out:
 	spin_unlock_bh(&mvmsta->lock);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
index 635956024e88..1aeb38296ec3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
@@ -1979,8 +1979,7 @@ static int mac80211_hwsim_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 
 	switch (action) {
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START:
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
-		break;
+		return IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_FLUSH:
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_FLUSH_CONT:
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwl8k.c b/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwl8k.c
index c4db6417748f..d55f229abeea 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwl8k.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwl8k.c
@@ -5520,7 +5520,7 @@ mwl8k_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 			rc = -EBUSY;
 			break;
 		}
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, addr, tid);
+		rc = IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_FLUSH:
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt7603/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt7603/main.c
index 25d5b1608bc9..4b3217b43a04 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt7603/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt7603/main.c
@@ -582,8 +582,7 @@ mt7603_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START:
 		mtxq->agg_ssn = IEEE80211_SN_TO_SEQ(ssn);
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
-		break;
+		return IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 		mtxq->aggr = false;
 		mt7603_mac_tx_ba_reset(dev, msta->wcid.idx, tid, -1);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt7615/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt7615/main.c
index 87c748715b5d..b6d78212306a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt7615/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt7615/main.c
@@ -477,8 +477,7 @@ mt7615_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START:
 		mtxq->agg_ssn = IEEE80211_SN_TO_SEQ(ssn);
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
-		break;
+		return IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 		mtxq->aggr = false;
 		mt7615_mcu_set_tx_ba(dev, params, 0);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt76x02_util.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt76x02_util.c
index aec73a0295e8..414b22399d93 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt76x02_util.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt76/mt76x02_util.c
@@ -393,8 +393,7 @@ int mt76x02_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START:
 		mtxq->agg_ssn = IEEE80211_SN_TO_SEQ(ssn);
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
-		break;
+		return IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 		mtxq->aggr = false;
 		ieee80211_stop_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt7601u/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt7601u/main.c
index 72e608cc53af..671d8897ae76 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt7601u/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt7601u/main.c
@@ -372,8 +372,7 @@ mt76_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START:
 		msta->agg_ssn[tid] = ssn << 4;
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
-		break;
+		return IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 		ieee80211_stop_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
 		break;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2800lib.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2800lib.c
index f1cdcd61c54a..b74e758cce09 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2800lib.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2800lib.c
@@ -10489,7 +10489,7 @@ int rt2800_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 		 */
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START:
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
+		ret = IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 		break;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_FLUSH:
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c
index ac746c322554..c75192c4447f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c
@@ -1776,8 +1776,7 @@ int rtl_tx_agg_start(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 
 	tid_data->agg.agg_state = RTL_AGG_START;
 
-	ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
-	return 0;
+	return IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 }
 
 int rtl_tx_agg_stop(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw88/mac80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw88/mac80211.c
index e5e3605bb693..a203b4705b94 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw88/mac80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw88/mac80211.c
@@ -437,8 +437,7 @@ static int rtw_ops_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 
 	switch (params->action) {
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START:
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
-		break;
+		return IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_FLUSH:
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_FLUSH_CONT:
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/rsi/rsi_91x_mac80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/rsi/rsi_91x_mac80211.c
index ce5e92d82efc..440088293aff 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/rsi/rsi_91x_mac80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/rsi/rsi_91x_mac80211.c
@@ -1140,8 +1140,7 @@ static int rsi_mac80211_ampdu_action(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		else if ((vif->type == NL80211_IFTYPE_AP) ||
 			 (vif->type == NL80211_IFTYPE_P2P_GO))
 			rsta->seq_start[tid] = seq_no;
-		ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe(vif, sta->addr, tid);
-		status = 0;
+		status = IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE;
 		break;
 
 	case IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT:
diff --git a/include/net/mac80211.h b/include/net/mac80211.h
index 523c6a09e1c8..d69081c38788 100644
--- a/include/net/mac80211.h
+++ b/include/net/mac80211.h
@@ -3095,7 +3095,9 @@ enum ieee80211_filter_flags {
  *
  * @IEEE80211_AMPDU_RX_START: start RX aggregation
  * @IEEE80211_AMPDU_RX_STOP: stop RX aggregation
- * @IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START: start TX aggregation
+ * @IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START: start TX aggregation, the driver must either
+ *	call ieee80211_start_tx_ba_cb_irqsafe() or return the special
+ *	status %IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE.
  * @IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_OPERATIONAL: TX aggregation has become operational
  * @IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_STOP_CONT: stop TX aggregation but continue transmitting
  *	queued packets, now unaggregated. After all packets are transmitted the
@@ -3119,6 +3121,8 @@ enum ieee80211_ampdu_mlme_action {
 	IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_OPERATIONAL,
 };
 
+#define IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE 1
+
 /**
  * struct ieee80211_ampdu_params - AMPDU action parameters
  *
@@ -3896,7 +3900,10 @@ struct ieee80211_ops {
 	 *
 	 * Even ``189`` would be wrong since 1 could be lost again.
 	 *
-	 * Returns a negative error code on failure.
+	 * Returns a negative error code on failure. The driver may return
+	 * %IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE for %IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START
+	 * if the session can start immediately.
+	 *
 	 * The callback can sleep.
 	 */
 	int (*ampdu_action)(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
diff --git a/net/mac80211/agg-tx.c b/net/mac80211/agg-tx.c
index b11883d26875..33da6f738c99 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/agg-tx.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/agg-tx.c
@@ -485,7 +485,14 @@ void ieee80211_tx_ba_session_handle_start(struct sta_info *sta, int tid)
 
 	params.ssn = sta->tid_seq[tid] >> 4;
 	ret = drv_ampdu_action(local, sdata, &params);
-	if (ret) {
+	if (ret == IEEE80211_AMPDU_TX_START_IMMEDIATE) {
+		/*
+		 * We didn't send the request yet, so don't need to check
+		 * here if we already got a response, just mark as driver
+		 * ready immediately.
+		 */
+		set_bit(HT_AGG_STATE_DRV_READY, &tid_tx->state);
+	} else if (ret) {
 		ht_dbg(sdata,
 		       "BA request denied - HW unavailable for %pM tid %d\n",
 		       sta->sta.addr, tid);
