diff --git a/drivers/net/wimax/i2400m/usb.c b/drivers/net/wimax/i2400m/usb.c
index ca4151a9e222..17851321b7fd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wimax/i2400m/usb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wimax/i2400m/usb.c
@@ -505,27 +505,52 @@ int i2400mu_suspend(struct usb_interface *iface, pm_message_t pm_msg)
 #ifdef CONFIG_PM
 	struct usb_device *usb_dev = i2400mu->usb_dev;
 #endif
+	unsigned is_autosuspend = 0;
 	struct i2400m *i2400m = &i2400mu->i2400m;
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_PM
+	if (usb_dev->auto_pm > 0)
+		is_autosuspend = 1;
+#endif
+
 	d_fnstart(3, dev, "(iface %p pm_msg %u)\n", iface, pm_msg.event);
 	if (i2400m->updown == 0)
 		goto no_firmware;
-	d_printf(1, dev, "fw up, requesting standby\n");
+	if (i2400m->state == I2400M_SS_DATA_PATH_CONNECTED && is_autosuspend) {
+		/* ugh -- the device is connected and this suspend
+		 * request is an autosuspend one (not a system standby
+		 * / hibernate).
+		 *
+		 * The only way the device can go to standby is if the
+		 * link with the base station is in IDLE mode; that
+		 * were the case, we'd be in status
+		 * I2400M_SS_CONNECTED_IDLE. But we are not.
+		 *
+		 * If we *tell* him to go power save now, it'll reset
+		 * as a precautionary measure, so if this is an
+		 * autosuspend thing, say no and it'll come back
+		 * later, when the link is IDLE
+		 */
+		result = -EBADF;
+		d_printf(1, dev, "fw up, link up, not-idle, autosuspend: "
+			 "not entering powersave\n");
+		goto error_not_now;
+	}
+	d_printf(1, dev, "fw up: entering powersave\n");
 	atomic_dec(&i2400mu->do_autopm);
 	result = i2400m_cmd_enter_powersave(i2400m);
 	atomic_inc(&i2400mu->do_autopm);
-#ifdef CONFIG_PM
-	if (result < 0 && usb_dev->auto_pm == 0) {
+	if (result < 0 && !is_autosuspend) {
 		/* System suspend, can't fail */
 		dev_err(dev, "failed to suspend, will reset on resume\n");
 		result = 0;
 	}
-#endif
 	if (result < 0)
 		goto error_enter_powersave;
 	i2400mu_notification_release(i2400mu);
-	d_printf(1, dev, "fw up, got standby\n");
+	d_printf(1, dev, "powersave requested\n");
 error_enter_powersave:
+error_not_now:
 no_firmware:
 	d_fnend(3, dev, "(iface %p pm_msg %u) = %d\n",
 		iface, pm_msg.event, result);