diff --git a/include/net/mac80211.h b/include/net/mac80211.h
index 1e3b4f730397..a608ab9879b4 100644
--- a/include/net/mac80211.h
+++ b/include/net/mac80211.h
@@ -1237,6 +1237,10 @@ enum ieee80211_sta_rx_bandwidth {
  *	if wme is supported.
  * @max_sp: max Service Period. Only valid if wme is supported.
  * @bandwidth: current bandwidth the station can receive with
+ * @rx_nss: in HT/VHT, the maximum number of spatial streams the
+ *	station can receive at the moment, changed by operating mode
+ *	notifications and capabilities. The value is only valid after
+ *	the station moves to associated state.
  */
 struct ieee80211_sta {
 	u32 supp_rates[IEEE80211_NUM_BANDS];
@@ -1247,6 +1251,7 @@ struct ieee80211_sta {
 	bool wme;
 	u8 uapsd_queues;
 	u8 max_sp;
+	u8 rx_nss;
 	enum ieee80211_sta_rx_bandwidth bandwidth;
 
 	/* must be last */
diff --git a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
index 6b41d7787a5a..3b13af4e6c49 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
+++ b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
@@ -1432,6 +1432,7 @@ void ieee80211_vht_cap_ie_to_sta_vht_cap(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 					 struct ieee80211_vht_cap *vht_cap_ie,
 					 struct sta_info *sta);
 enum ieee80211_sta_rx_bandwidth ieee80211_sta_cur_vht_bw(struct sta_info *sta);
+void ieee80211_sta_set_rx_nss(struct sta_info *sta);
 
 /* Spectrum management */
 void ieee80211_process_measurement_req(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
diff --git a/net/mac80211/rate.h b/net/mac80211/rate.h
index 301386dabf88..d35a5dd3fb13 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/rate.h
+++ b/net/mac80211/rate.h
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ static inline void rate_control_rate_init(struct sta_info *sta)
 	sband = local->hw.wiphy->bands[chanctx_conf->def.chan->band];
 	rcu_read_unlock();
 
+	ieee80211_sta_set_rx_nss(sta);
+
 	ref->ops->rate_init(ref->priv, sband, ista, priv_sta);
 	set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_RATE_CONTROL);
 }
diff --git a/net/mac80211/vht.c b/net/mac80211/vht.c
index 0fc9a2fb8d53..67436e3efbbd 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/vht.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/vht.c
@@ -74,3 +74,44 @@ enum ieee80211_sta_rx_bandwidth ieee80211_sta_cur_vht_bw(struct sta_info *sta)
 		return IEEE80211_STA_RX_BW_80;
 	}
 }
+
+void ieee80211_sta_set_rx_nss(struct sta_info *sta)
+{
+	u8 ht_rx_nss = 0, vht_rx_nss = 0;
+
+	/* if we received a notification already don't overwrite it */
+	if (sta->sta.rx_nss)
+		return;
+
+	if (sta->sta.ht_cap.ht_supported) {
+		if (sta->sta.ht_cap.mcs.rx_mask[0])
+			ht_rx_nss++;
+		if (sta->sta.ht_cap.mcs.rx_mask[1])
+			ht_rx_nss++;
+		if (sta->sta.ht_cap.mcs.rx_mask[2])
+			ht_rx_nss++;
+		if (sta->sta.ht_cap.mcs.rx_mask[3])
+			ht_rx_nss++;
+		/* FIXME: consider rx_highest? */
+	}
+
+	if (sta->sta.vht_cap.vht_supported) {
+		int i;
+		u16 rx_mcs_map;
+
+		rx_mcs_map = le16_to_cpu(sta->sta.vht_cap.vht_mcs.rx_mcs_map);
+
+		for (i = 7; i >= 0; i--) {
+			u8 mcs = (rx_mcs_map >> (2 * i)) & 3;
+
+			if (mcs != IEEE80211_VHT_MCS_NOT_SUPPORTED) {
+				vht_rx_nss = i + 1;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+		/* FIXME: consider rx_highest? */
+	}
+
+	ht_rx_nss = max(ht_rx_nss, vht_rx_nss);
+	sta->sta.rx_nss = max_t(u8, 1, ht_rx_nss);
+}