diff --git a/sys/dev/ath/if_ath.c b/sys/dev/ath/if_ath.c
index 58f237e61c01..ee17c84cce01 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ath/if_ath.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ath/if_ath.c
@@ -490,11 +490,7 @@ ath_attach(u_int16_t devid, struct ath_softc *sc)
 	 * support with a sysctl.
 	 */
 	sc->sc_softled = (devid == AR5212_DEVID_IBM || devid == AR5211_DEVID);
-	if (sc->sc_softled) {
-		ath_hal_gpioCfgOutput(ah, sc->sc_ledpin,
-		    HAL_GPIO_MUX_MAC_NETWORK_LED);
-		ath_hal_gpioset(ah, sc->sc_ledpin, !sc->sc_ledon);
-	}
+	ath_led_config(sc);
 
 	ifp->if_softc = sc;
 	ifp->if_flags = IFF_SIMPLEX | IFF_BROADCAST | IFF_MULTICAST;
@@ -1332,11 +1328,7 @@ ath_resume(struct ath_softc *sc)
 		} else
 			ieee80211_resume_all(ic);
 	}
-	if (sc->sc_softled) {
-		ath_hal_gpioCfgOutput(ah, sc->sc_ledpin,
-		    HAL_GPIO_MUX_MAC_NETWORK_LED);
-		ath_hal_gpioset(ah, sc->sc_ledpin, !sc->sc_ledon);
-	}
+	ath_led_config(sc);
 
 	/* XXX beacons ? */
 }
diff --git a/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_led.c b/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_led.c
index 796669ffdb80..e81e542a5810 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_led.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_led.c
@@ -110,6 +110,26 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
  * XXX TODO: move the LED sysctls here.
  */
 
+
+/*
+ * Configure the hardware for software and/or LED blinking.
+ *
+ * This requires the configuration to be set beforehand.
+ */
+void
+ath_led_config(struct ath_softc *sc)
+{
+	/* Software LED blinking - GPIO controlled LED */
+	if (sc->sc_softled) {
+		ath_hal_gpioCfgOutput(sc->sc_ah, sc->sc_ledpin,
+		    HAL_GPIO_MUX_MAC_NETWORK_LED);
+		ath_hal_gpioset(sc->sc_ah, sc->sc_ledpin, !sc->sc_ledon);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	/* Hardware LED blinking - MAC controlled LED */
+}
+
 static void
 ath_led_done(void *arg)
 {
diff --git a/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_led.h b/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_led.h
index 6d6df02c604c..54de4c4ac2cf 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_led.h
+++ b/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_led.h
@@ -32,5 +32,6 @@
 #define	__IF_ATH_LED_H__
 
 extern	void ath_led_event(struct ath_softc *sc, int rix);
+extern	void ath_led_config(struct ath_softc *sc);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_sysctl.c b/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_sysctl.c
index a609341214ab..22d378b16046 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_sysctl.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ath/if_ath_sysctl.c
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <dev/ath/ath_hal/ah_diagcodes.h>
 
 #include <dev/ath/if_ath_debug.h>
+#include <dev/ath/if_ath_led.h>
 #include <dev/ath/if_ath_misc.h>
 #include <dev/ath/if_ath_tx.h>
 #include <dev/ath/if_ath_sysctl.h>
@@ -151,10 +152,7 @@ ath_sysctl_softled(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)
 	if (softled != sc->sc_softled) {
 		if (softled) {
 			/* NB: handle any sc_ledpin change */
-			ath_hal_gpioCfgOutput(sc->sc_ah, sc->sc_ledpin,
-			    HAL_GPIO_MUX_MAC_NETWORK_LED);
-			ath_hal_gpioset(sc->sc_ah, sc->sc_ledpin,
-				!sc->sc_ledon);
+			ath_led_config(sc);
 		}
 		sc->sc_softled = softled;
 	}
@@ -174,10 +172,7 @@ ath_sysctl_ledpin(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)
 	if (ledpin != sc->sc_ledpin) {
 		sc->sc_ledpin = ledpin;
 		if (sc->sc_softled) {
-			ath_hal_gpioCfgOutput(sc->sc_ah, sc->sc_ledpin,
-			    HAL_GPIO_MUX_MAC_NETWORK_LED);
-			ath_hal_gpioset(sc->sc_ah, sc->sc_ledpin,
-				!sc->sc_ledon);
+			ath_led_config(sc);
 		}
 	}
 	return 0;