diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/nl80211.h b/include/uapi/linux/nl80211.h
index cbf1e228650f..b48430769eda 100644
--- a/include/uapi/linux/nl80211.h
+++ b/include/uapi/linux/nl80211.h
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 
 #include <linux/types.h>
 
+#define NL80211_GENL_NAME "nl80211"
+
 /**
  * DOC: Station handling
  *
diff --git a/net/wireless/core.c b/net/wireless/core.c
index 84c9ad7e1dca..68f0c96c0565 100644
--- a/net/wireless/core.c
+++ b/net/wireless/core.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 MODULE_AUTHOR("Johannes Berg");
 MODULE_LICENSE("GPL");
 MODULE_DESCRIPTION("wireless configuration support");
+MODULE_ALIAS_GENL_FAMILY(NL80211_GENL_NAME);
 
 /* RCU-protected (and cfg80211_mutex for writers) */
 LIST_HEAD(cfg80211_rdev_list);
diff --git a/net/wireless/nl80211.c b/net/wireless/nl80211.c
index f687a8d0d026..9cdcd9ec3317 100644
--- a/net/wireless/nl80211.c
+++ b/net/wireless/nl80211.c
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ static void nl80211_post_doit(struct genl_ops *ops, struct sk_buff *skb,
 
 /* the netlink family */
 static struct genl_family nl80211_fam = {
-	.id = GENL_ID_GENERATE,	/* don't bother with a hardcoded ID */
-	.name = "nl80211",	/* have users key off the name instead */
-	.hdrsize = 0,		/* no private header */
-	.version = 1,		/* no particular meaning now */
+	.id = GENL_ID_GENERATE,		/* don't bother with a hardcoded ID */
+	.name = NL80211_GENL_NAME,	/* have users key off the name instead */
+	.hdrsize = 0,			/* no private header */
+	.version = 1,			/* no particular meaning now */
 	.maxattr = NL80211_ATTR_MAX,
 	.netnsok = true,
 	.pre_doit = nl80211_pre_doit,