diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hif_usb.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hif_usb.c
index 860da13bfb6a..ea23d6379b79 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hif_usb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hif_usb.c
@@ -551,11 +551,20 @@ static void ath9k_hif_usb_rx_stream(struct hif_device_usb *hif_dev,
 
 	if (rx_remain_len != 0) {
 		struct sk_buff *remain_skb = hif_dev->remain_skb;
+		u16 pkt_tag;
 
 		if (remain_skb) {
 			ptr = (u8 *) remain_skb->data;
 
 			index = rx_remain_len;
+			pkt_tag = get_unaligned_le16(ptr + index + 2);
+
+			if (pkt_tag != ATH_USB_RX_STREAM_MODE_TAG) {
+				spin_unlock(&hif_dev->rx_lock);
+				RX_STAT_INC(skb_dropped);
+				return;
+			}
+
 			rx_remain_len -= hif_dev->rx_pad_len;
 			ptr += rx_pkt_len;