--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/wmi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/wmi.c
@@ -308,8 +308,11 @@ int ath9k_wmi_cmd(struct wmi *wmi, enum wmi_cmd_id cmd_id,
 	unsigned long time_left;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	if (ah->ah_flags & AH_UNPLUGGED)
-		return 0;
+	if (ah->ah_flags & AH_UNPLUGGED) {
+		ath_dbg(common, WMI, "Device unplugged for WMI command: %s\n",
+			wmi_cmd_to_name(cmd_id));
+		return -ENODEV;
+	}
 
 	skb = alloc_skb(headroom + cmd_len, GFP_ATOMIC);
 	if (!skb)