diff --git a/sys/dev/iwm/if_iwm.c b/sys/dev/iwm/if_iwm.c
index 45549665da9..eff389e9a2a 100644
--- a/sys/dev/iwm/if_iwm.c
+++ b/sys/dev/iwm/if_iwm.c
@@ -3836,6 +3836,7 @@ static void
 iwm_watchdog(void *arg)
 {
 	struct iwm_softc *sc = arg;
+	struct ieee80211com *ic = &sc->sc_ic;
 
 	if (sc->sc_tx_timer > 0) {
 		if (--sc->sc_tx_timer == 0) {
@@ -3843,8 +3844,8 @@ iwm_watchdog(void *arg)
 #ifdef IWM_DEBUG
 			iwm_nic_error(sc);
 #endif
-			iwm_stop(sc);
-			counter_u64_add(sc->sc_ic.ic_oerrors, 1);
+			ieee80211_restart_all(ic);
+			counter_u64_add(ic->ic_oerrors, 1);
 			return;
 		}
 	}