diff --git a/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c b/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c
index 003cb470ac84..f49ef288e2e2 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ static void mesh_queue_preq(struct mesh_path *mpath, u8 flags)
 	struct ieee80211_if_mesh *ifmsh = &sdata->u.mesh;
 	struct mesh_preq_queue *preq_node;
 
-	preq_node = kmalloc(sizeof(struct mesh_preq_queue), GFP_KERNEL);
+	preq_node = kmalloc(sizeof(struct mesh_preq_queue), GFP_ATOMIC);
 	if (!preq_node) {
 		printk(KERN_DEBUG "Mesh HWMP: could not allocate PREQ node\n");
 		return;