diff --git a/config/Config-kernel.in b/config/Config-kernel.in
index f1ee919ee33..34c606a8483 100644
--- a/config/Config-kernel.in
+++ b/config/Config-kernel.in
@@ -1108,6 +1108,22 @@ config KERNEL_NET_L3_MASTER_DEV
 	  This module provides glue between core networking code and device
 	  drivers to support L3 master devices like VRF.
 
+config KERNEL_WIRELESS_EXT
+	def_bool n
+
+config KERNEL_WEXT_CORE
+	def_bool KERNEL_WIRELESS_EXT
+
+config KERNEL_WEXT_PRIV
+	def_bool KERNEL_WIRELESS_EXT
+
+config KERNEL_WEXT_PROC
+	def_bool KERNEL_WIRELESS_EXT
+
+config KERNEL_WEXT_SPY
+	def_bool KERNEL_WIRELESS_EXT
+
+
 #
 # NFS related symbols
 #
diff --git a/package/kernel/broadcom-wl/Makefile b/package/kernel/broadcom-wl/Makefile
index 7188c4900ea..dec5bcb98d2 100644
--- a/package/kernel/broadcom-wl/Makefile
+++ b/package/kernel/broadcom-wl/Makefile
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ endef
 define KernelPackage/brcm-wl/Default
   $(call Package/broadcom-wl/Default)
   SECTION:=kernel
-  DEPENDS:=@(TARGET_bcm47xx||TARGET_bcm63xx) +wireless-tools
+  DEPENDS:=@(TARGET_bcm47xx||TARGET_bcm63xx) +wireless-tools +@KERNEL_WIRELESS_EXT
   TITLE:=Kernel driver for BCM43xx chipsets
   FILES:=$(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/driver$(1)/wl.ko $(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/glue/wl_glue.ko
   AUTOLOAD:=$(call AutoProbe,wl)
diff --git a/package/kernel/mac80211/Makefile b/package/kernel/mac80211/Makefile
index d467d20c611..f68488a24a6 100644
--- a/package/kernel/mac80211/Makefile
+++ b/package/kernel/mac80211/Makefile
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ config_package=$(if $(CONFIG_PACKAGE_kmod-$(1)),m)
 
 config-y:= \
 	WLAN \
-	CFG80211_WEXT \
 	CFG80211_CERTIFICATION_ONUS \
 	MAC80211_RC_MINSTREL \
 	MAC80211_RC_MINSTREL_HT \
diff --git a/package/network/services/hostapd/Config.in b/package/network/services/hostapd/Config.in
index 4cfcaafade9..21ed42fa077 100644
--- a/package/network/services/hostapd/Config.in
+++ b/package/network/services/hostapd/Config.in
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ config WPA_WOLFSSL
 
 config DRIVER_WEXT_SUPPORT
 	bool
+	select KERNEL_WIRELESS_EXT
 	default n
 
 config DRIVER_11N_SUPPORT
diff --git a/target/linux/generic/config-5.10 b/target/linux/generic/config-5.10
index 281607bdbbb..07edd53ff9c 100644
--- a/target/linux/generic/config-5.10
+++ b/target/linux/generic/config-5.10
@@ -7085,15 +7085,15 @@ CONFIG_WATCHDOG_OPEN_TIMEOUT=0
 # CONFIG_WD80x3 is not set
 # CONFIG_WDAT_WDT is not set
 # CONFIG_WDTPCI is not set
-CONFIG_WEXT_CORE=y
-CONFIG_WEXT_PRIV=y
-CONFIG_WEXT_PROC=y
-CONFIG_WEXT_SPY=y
+# CONFIG_WEXT_CORE is not set
+# CONFIG_WEXT_PRIV is not set
+# CONFIG_WEXT_PROC is not set
+# CONFIG_WEXT_SPY is not set
 CONFIG_WILINK_PLATFORM_DATA=y
 # CONFIG_WIMAX is not set
 # CONFIG_WIREGUARD is not set
 CONFIG_WIRELESS=y
-CONFIG_WIRELESS_EXT=y
+# CONFIG_WIRELESS_EXT is not set
 # CONFIG_WIRELESS_WDS is not set
 # CONFIG_WIZNET_W5100 is not set
 # CONFIG_WIZNET_W5300 is not set
diff --git a/target/linux/generic/config-5.15 b/target/linux/generic/config-5.15
index 8c6a3f641e7..8901a483dde 100644
--- a/target/linux/generic/config-5.15
+++ b/target/linux/generic/config-5.15
@@ -7419,15 +7419,15 @@ CONFIG_WATCHDOG_OPEN_TIMEOUT=0
 # CONFIG_WDAT_WDT is not set
 # CONFIG_WDTPCI is not set
 # CONFIG_WERROR is not set
-CONFIG_WEXT_CORE=y
-CONFIG_WEXT_PRIV=y
-CONFIG_WEXT_PROC=y
-CONFIG_WEXT_SPY=y
+# CONFIG_WEXT_CORE is not set
+# CONFIG_WEXT_PRIV is not set
+# CONFIG_WEXT_PROC is not set
+# CONFIG_WEXT_SPY is not set
 CONFIG_WILINK_PLATFORM_DATA=y
 # CONFIG_WIMAX is not set
 # CONFIG_WIREGUARD is not set
 CONFIG_WIRELESS=y
-CONFIG_WIRELESS_EXT=y
+# CONFIG_WIRELESS_EXT is not set
 # CONFIG_WIRELESS_WDS is not set
 # CONFIG_WIZNET_W5100 is not set
 # CONFIG_WIZNET_W5300 is not set