diff --git a/net/mac80211/mesh.c b/net/mac80211/mesh.c
index f7364e56f1e..9a733890eb4 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mesh.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mesh.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ static void ieee80211_mesh_housekeeping_timer(unsigned long data)
 	struct ieee80211_local *local = sdata->local;
 	struct ieee80211_if_mesh *ifmsh = &sdata->u.mesh;
 
-	ifmsh->wrkq_flags |= MESH_WORK_HOUSEKEEPING;
+	set_bit(MESH_WORK_HOUSEKEEPING, &ifmsh->wrkq_flags);
 
 	if (local->quiescing) {
 		set_bit(TMR_RUNNING_HK, &ifmsh->timers_running);
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ void ieee80211_start_mesh(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata)
 	struct ieee80211_if_mesh *ifmsh = &sdata->u.mesh;
 	struct ieee80211_local *local = sdata->local;
 
-	ifmsh->wrkq_flags |= MESH_WORK_HOUSEKEEPING;
+	set_bit(MESH_WORK_HOUSEKEEPING, &ifmsh->wrkq_flags);
 	ieee80211_queue_work(&local->hw, &ifmsh->work);
 	sdata->vif.bss_conf.beacon_int = MESH_DEFAULT_BEACON_INTERVAL;
 	ieee80211_bss_info_change_notify(sdata, BSS_CHANGED_BEACON |