diff --git a/net/wireless/wext-sme.c b/net/wireless/wext-sme.c
index 53c6ba98dc25..5615a8802536 100644
--- a/net/wireless/wext-sme.c
+++ b/net/wireless/wext-sme.c
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ int cfg80211_mgd_wext_connect(struct cfg80211_registered_device *rdev,
 	if (wdev->wext.keys) {
 		wdev->wext.keys->def = wdev->wext.default_key;
 		wdev->wext.keys->defmgmt = wdev->wext.default_mgmt_key;
-		wdev->wext.connect.privacy = true;
+		if (wdev->wext.default_key != -1)
+			wdev->wext.connect.privacy = true;
 	}
 
 	if (!wdev->wext.connect.ssid_len)