diff --git a/src/drivers/driver_atheros.c b/src/drivers/driver_atheros.c
index a0521c34a..56eac5bb7 100644
--- a/src/drivers/driver_atheros.c
+++ b/src/drivers/driver_atheros.c
@@ -484,7 +484,8 @@ atheros_set_key(const char *ifname, void *priv, enum wpa_alg alg,
 	if (addr == NULL || is_broadcast_ether_addr(addr)) {
 		memset(wk.ik_macaddr, 0xff, IEEE80211_ADDR_LEN);
 		wk.ik_keyix = key_idx;
-		wk.ik_flags |= IEEE80211_KEY_DEFAULT;
+		if (set_tx)
+			wk.ik_flags |= IEEE80211_KEY_DEFAULT;
 	} else {
 		memcpy(wk.ik_macaddr, addr, IEEE80211_ADDR_LEN);
 		wk.ik_keyix = IEEE80211_KEYIX_NONE;