diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c b/drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c
index 50ed7ab09c9f..3d4bf01641b4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/usbnet.c
@@ -1616,6 +1616,16 @@ void usbnet_device_suggests_idle(struct usbnet *dev)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(usbnet_device_suggests_idle);
 
+/*
+ * For devices that can do without special commands
+ */
+int usbnet_manage_power(struct usbnet *dev, int on)
+{
+	dev->intf->needs_remote_wakeup = on;
+	return 0;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(usbnet_manage_power);
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 static int __usbnet_read_cmd(struct usbnet *dev, u8 cmd, u8 reqtype,
 			     u16 value, u16 index, void *data, u16 size)
diff --git a/include/linux/usb/usbnet.h b/include/linux/usb/usbnet.h
index 288b32aadab2..bd45eb7bedc8 100644
--- a/include/linux/usb/usbnet.h
+++ b/include/linux/usb/usbnet.h
@@ -241,4 +241,6 @@ extern void usbnet_set_msglevel(struct net_device *, u32);
 extern void usbnet_get_drvinfo(struct net_device *, struct ethtool_drvinfo *);
 extern int usbnet_nway_reset(struct net_device *net);
 
+extern int usbnet_manage_power(struct usbnet *, int);
+
 #endif /* __LINUX_USB_USBNET_H */