diff --git a/net/wireless/reg.c b/net/wireless/reg.c
index e6df52dc8c69..cc35fbaa4578 100644
--- a/net/wireless/reg.c
+++ b/net/wireless/reg.c
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ static void handle_channel(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 			return;
 
 		REG_DBG_PRINT("Disabling freq %d MHz\n", chan->center_freq);
-		chan->flags = IEEE80211_CHAN_DISABLED;
+		chan->flags |= IEEE80211_CHAN_DISABLED;
 		return;
 	}