diff --git a/sys/dev/bwi/if_bwi.c b/sys/dev/bwi/if_bwi.c
index 91145e4bb66..5501c13f7b7 100644
--- a/sys/dev/bwi/if_bwi.c
+++ b/sys/dev/bwi/if_bwi.c
@@ -1769,6 +1769,7 @@ static int
 bwi_newstate(struct ieee80211vap *vap, enum ieee80211_state nstate, int arg)
 {
 	struct bwi_vap *bvp = BWI_VAP(vap);
+	const struct ieee80211_txparam *tp;
 	struct ieee80211com *ic= vap->iv_ic;
 	struct ifnet *ifp = ic->ic_ifp;
 	enum ieee80211_state ostate = vap->iv_state;
@@ -1822,6 +1823,11 @@ bwi_newstate(struct ieee80211vap *vap, enum ieee80211_state nstate, int arg)
 		sc->sc_txpwrcb_type = BWI_TXPWR_CALIB;
 #endif
 
+		/* Initializes ratectl for a node. */
+		tp = &vap->iv_txparms[ieee80211_chan2mode(ic->ic_curchan)];
+		if (tp->ucastrate == IEEE80211_FIXED_RATE_NONE)
+			ieee80211_ratectl_node_init(vap->iv_bss);
+
 		callout_reset(&sc->sc_calib_ch, hz, bwi_calibrate, sc);
 	}
 back: