diff --git a/drivers/bus/mhi/core/init.c b/drivers/bus/mhi/core/init.c
index 2534f1c9c153..655d539c6808 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/mhi/core/init.c
+++ b/drivers/bus/mhi/core/init.c
@@ -758,7 +758,6 @@ static int parse_ch_cfg(struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl,
 		mhi_chan->offload_ch = ch_cfg->offload_channel;
 		mhi_chan->db_cfg.reset_req = ch_cfg->doorbell_mode_switch;
 		mhi_chan->pre_alloc = ch_cfg->auto_queue;
-		mhi_chan->auto_start = ch_cfg->auto_start;
 
 		/*
 		 * If MHI host allocates buffers, then the channel direction
@@ -1169,11 +1168,6 @@ static int mhi_driver_probe(struct device *dev)
 			goto exit_probe;
 
 		ul_chan->xfer_cb = mhi_drv->ul_xfer_cb;
-		if (ul_chan->auto_start) {
-			ret = mhi_prepare_channel(mhi_cntrl, ul_chan);
-			if (ret)
-				goto exit_probe;
-		}
 	}
 
 	ret = -EINVAL;
@@ -1207,9 +1201,6 @@ static int mhi_driver_probe(struct device *dev)
 	if (ret)
 		goto exit_probe;
 
-	if (dl_chan && dl_chan->auto_start)
-		mhi_prepare_channel(mhi_cntrl, dl_chan);
-
 	mhi_device_put(mhi_dev);
 
 	return ret;
diff --git a/drivers/bus/mhi/core/internal.h b/drivers/bus/mhi/core/internal.h
index 2df8de5432f9..6f80ec30c0cd 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/mhi/core/internal.h
+++ b/drivers/bus/mhi/core/internal.h
@@ -563,7 +563,6 @@ struct mhi_chan {
 	bool configured;
 	bool offload_ch;
 	bool pre_alloc;
-	bool auto_start;
 	bool wake_capable;
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mhi.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mhi.c
index aded9a719d51..47a1ce1bee4f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mhi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mhi.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ static struct mhi_channel_config ath11k_mhi_channels[] = {
 		.offload_channel = false,
 		.doorbell_mode_switch = false,
 		.auto_queue = false,
-		.auto_start = false,
 	},
 	{
 		.num = 1,
@@ -39,7 +38,6 @@ static struct mhi_channel_config ath11k_mhi_channels[] = {
 		.offload_channel = false,
 		.doorbell_mode_switch = false,
 		.auto_queue = false,
-		.auto_start = false,
 	},
 	{
 		.num = 20,
@@ -54,7 +52,6 @@ static struct mhi_channel_config ath11k_mhi_channels[] = {
 		.offload_channel = false,
 		.doorbell_mode_switch = false,
 		.auto_queue = false,
-		.auto_start = true,
 	},
 	{
 		.num = 21,
@@ -69,7 +66,6 @@ static struct mhi_channel_config ath11k_mhi_channels[] = {
 		.offload_channel = false,
 		.doorbell_mode_switch = false,
 		.auto_queue = true,
-		.auto_start = true,
 	},
 };
 
diff --git a/include/linux/mhi.h b/include/linux/mhi.h
index 1ed5f2aa224b..d31efcf02ae7 100644
--- a/include/linux/mhi.h
+++ b/include/linux/mhi.h
@@ -214,7 +214,6 @@ enum mhi_db_brst_mode {
  * @offload_channel: The client manages the channel completely
  * @doorbell_mode_switch: Channel switches to doorbell mode on M0 transition
  * @auto_queue: Framework will automatically queue buffers for DL traffic
- * @auto_start: Automatically start (open) this channel
  * @wake-capable: Channel capable of waking up the system
  */
 struct mhi_channel_config {
@@ -232,7 +231,6 @@ struct mhi_channel_config {
 	bool offload_channel;
 	bool doorbell_mode_switch;
 	bool auto_queue;
-	bool auto_start;
 	bool wake_capable;
 };
 
diff --git a/net/qrtr/mhi.c b/net/qrtr/mhi.c
index ff0c41467fc1..2bf2b1943e61 100644
--- a/net/qrtr/mhi.c
+++ b/net/qrtr/mhi.c
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ static int qcom_mhi_qrtr_probe(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev,
 	struct qrtr_mhi_dev *qdev;
 	int rc;
 
+	/* start channels */
+	rc = mhi_prepare_for_transfer(mhi_dev);
+	if (rc)
+		return rc;
+
 	qdev = devm_kzalloc(&mhi_dev->dev, sizeof(*qdev), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!qdev)
 		return -ENOMEM;
@@ -99,6 +104,7 @@ static void qcom_mhi_qrtr_remove(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev)
 	struct qrtr_mhi_dev *qdev = dev_get_drvdata(&mhi_dev->dev);
 
 	qrtr_endpoint_unregister(&qdev->ep);
+	mhi_unprepare_from_transfer(mhi_dev);
 	dev_set_drvdata(&mhi_dev->dev, NULL);
 }