Iwlwifi on Tumblweed kernel 6.16.x crashing (need to hard reboot) - xfce

benxjones · August 18, 2025, 7:47pm

Hi,

Since the 6.16 kernel “upgrade” all of my computers crash with wifi enabled. I’m currently using the final iteration of 6.15, which works as expected.

Journal output:

bxj:~ # journalctl -b -1 -e
Aug 18 14:00:10 bxj systemd[1]: snapper-timeline.service: Deactivated successfully.
Aug 18 14:00:55 bxj systemd[1]: Starting Time & Date Service...
Aug 18 14:00:55 bxj systemd[1]: Started Time & Date Service.
Aug 18 14:00:55 bxj rtkit-daemon[3683]: Successfully made thread 15571 of process 15457 owned by '1000' RT at priority 10.
Aug 18 14:01:10 bxj systemd[1]: snapperd.service: Deactivated successfully.
Aug 18 14:01:25 bxj systemd[1]: systemd-timedated.service: Deactivated successfully.
Aug 18 14:04:39 bxj rtkit-daemon[3683]: Successfully made thread 16349 of process 15957 owned by '1000' RT at priority 10.
Aug 18 14:10:10 bxj systemd[1]: Started Daily Cleanup of Snapper Snapshots.
Aug 18 14:10:10 bxj systemd[1]: Starting DBus interface for snapper...
Aug 18 14:10:10 bxj systemd[1]: Started DBus interface for snapper.
Aug 18 14:10:10 bxj systemd-helper[16571]: Running cleanup for 'root'.
Aug 18 14:10:10 bxj systemd-helper[16571]: Running number cleanup for 'root'.
Aug 18 14:10:15 bxj kernel: BTRFS info (device dm-1): qgroup scan completed (inconsistency flag cleared)
Aug 18 14:10:15 bxj systemd-helper[16571]: Running timeline cleanup for 'root'.
Aug 18 14:10:15 bxj systemd-helper[16571]: Running empty-pre-post cleanup for 'root'.
Aug 18 14:10:15 bxj systemd-helper[16571]: Running 'btrfs qgroup clear-stale /.snapshots'.
Aug 18 14:10:15 bxj systemd[1]: snapper-cleanup.service: Deactivated successfully.
Aug 18 14:11:15 bxj systemd[1]: snapperd.service: Deactivated successfully.
Aug 18 14:18:50 bxj systemd[1]: Starting Location Lookup Service...
Aug 18 14:18:50 bxj systemd[1]: Started Location Lookup Service.
Aug 18 14:18:50 bxj geoclue[16944]: Failed to query location: No WiFi networks found
Aug 18 14:20:07 bxj systemd[1]: Starting Time & Date Service...
Aug 18 14:20:07 bxj systemd[1]: Started Time & Date Service.
Aug 18 14:20:37 bxj systemd[1]: systemd-timedated.service: Deactivated successfully.
Aug 18 14:21:08 bxj geoclue[16944]: Service not used for 60 seconds. Shutting down..
Aug 18 14:21:08 bxj systemd[1]: geoclue.service: Deactivated successfully.
Aug 18 14:40:18 bxj systemd[3526]: Starting Xfce configuration service...
Aug 18 14:40:18 bxj systemd[3526]: Started Xfce configuration service.
Aug 18 14:40:19 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Microcode SW error detected.  Restarting 0x2000000.
Aug 18 14:40:19 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Loaded firmware version: 18.168.6.1 6000g2a-6.ucode

Network cards info from my X220 laptop:

bxj:~ # inxi -n
Network:
  Device-1: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network driver: e1000e
  IF: enp0s25 state: down mac: f0:de:f1:b9:66:4f
  Device-2: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak] driver: iwlwifi
  IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: 10:0b:a9:38:d9:80

Does anyone know of a solution (permanent or temporary), or is best to wait for the gods?

hui · August 18, 2025, 7:53pm

Gods never helped. But bugreports do.

benxjones · August 18, 2025, 8:03pm

Already reported yesterday, along with many others. Just took a punt that someone on here would know something.

Related, or not, whenever I start Qbittorrent, my computers instantly freeze and have to be hard rebooted. No problem, I’ll just keep using kernel 6.15.

bxj:~ # journalctl -b -1 -e
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON faile>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON faile>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON faile>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_ADD_STA fa>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: wlp3s0: failed to remove key (1, ff:ff:ff:ff:f>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON faile>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Interface wlp3s0.IPv6 no longer re>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on in>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Interface wlp3s0.IPv4 no longer re>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on in>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Withdrawing address record for fe8>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Withdrawing address record for 192>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2845] device>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 >
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 >
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 >
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj systemd[1]: Starting Load/Save RF Kill Switch Status...
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: ------------[ cut here ]------------
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: kernel BUG at mm/slub.c:546!
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_ADD_STA failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: wlp3s0: failed to remove key (1, ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff) from hardware (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Interface wlp3s0.IPv6 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlp3s0.IPv6 with address fe80::120b:a9ff:fe38:>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Interface wlp3s0.IPv4 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlp3s0.IPv4 with address 192.168.0.238.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Withdrawing address record for fe80::120b:a9ff:fe38:d980 on wlp3s0.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Withdrawing address record for 192.168.0.238 on wlp3s0.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2845] device (wlp3s0): state change: activated -> unmanaged (reaso>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): canceled DHCP transaction
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): activation: beginning transaction (timeout i>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): state changed no lease
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj systemd[1]: Starting Load/Save RF Kill Switch Status...
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: ------------[ cut here ]------------
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: kernel BUG at mm/slub.c:546!
 ESCOD
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_ADD_STA failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: wlp3s0: failed to remove key (1, ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff) from hardware (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Interface wlp3s0.IPv6 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlp3s0.IPv6 with address fe80::120b:a9ff:fe38:>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Interface wlp3s0.IPv4 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlp3s0.IPv4 with address 192.168.0.238.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Withdrawing address record for fe80::120b:a9ff:fe38:d980 on wlp3s0.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Withdrawing address record for 192.168.0.238 on wlp3s0.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2845] device (wlp3s0): state change: activated -> unmanaged (reaso>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): canceled DHCP transaction
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): activation: beginning transaction (timeout i>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): state changed no lease
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj systemd[1]: Starting Load/Save RF Kill Switch Status...
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: ------------[ cut here ]------------
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: kernel BUG at mm/slub.c:546!
 ESCOD
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_ADD_STA failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: wlp3s0: failed to remove key (1, ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff) from hardware (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Command REPLY_RXON failed: FW Error
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Error clearing ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Interface wlp3s0.IPv6 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlp3s0.IPv6 with address fe80::120b:a9ff:fe38:>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Interface wlp3s0.IPv4 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlp3s0.IPv4 with address 192.168.0.238.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Withdrawing address record for fe80::120b:a9ff:fe38:d980 on wlp3s0.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Withdrawing address record for 192.168.0.238 on wlp3s0.
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2845] device (wlp3s0): state change: activated -> unmanaged (reaso>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): canceled DHCP transaction
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): activation: beginning transaction (timeout i>
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546746.2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): state changed no lease
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj systemd[1]: Starting Load/Save RF Kill Switch Status...
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: ------------[ cut here ]------------
Aug 18 15:52:26 bxj kernel: kernel BUG at mm/slub.c:546!
 ESCOC
Y_RXON failed: FW Error
ng ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Y_RXON failed: FW Error
ng ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Y_RXON failed: FW Error
ng ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
Y_ADD_STA failed: FW Error
f:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff) from hardware (-5)
Y_RXON failed: FW Error
ng ASSOC_MSK on BSS (-5)
no longer relevant for mDNS.
 group on interface wlp3s0.IPv6 with address fe80::120b:a9ff:fe38:d980.
no longer relevant for mDNS.
 group on interface wlp3s0.IPv4 with address 192.168.0.238.
cord for fe80::120b:a9ff:fe38:d980 on wlp3s0.
cord for 192.168.0.238 on wlp3s0.
2845] device (wlp3s0): state change: activated -> unmanaged (reason 'unmanaged-link-not-init', managed-type: 'removed')
2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): canceled DHCP transaction
2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): activation: beginning transaction (timeout in 45 seconds)
2847] dhcp4 (wlp3s0): state changed no lease
tch Status...
 ESCOD
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546731.8618] device (tun0): state change: disconnected -> prepare (reason>
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546731.8623] device (tun0): state change: prepare -> config (reason 'none>
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546731.8626] device (tun0): state change: config -> ip-config (reason 'no>
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546731.8629] device (tun0): state change: ip-config -> ip-check (reason '>
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: Files changed, reloading.
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj avahi-daemon[1291]: No service file found in /etc/avahi/services.
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj systemd[1]: Starting Network Manager Script Dispatcher Service...
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj systemd[1]: Started Network Manager Script Dispatcher Service.
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546731.9210] device (tun0): state change: ip-check -> secondaries (reason>
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546731.9214] device (tun0): state change: secondaries -> activated (reaso>
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj NetworkManager[1400]: <info>  [1755546731.9224] device (tun0): Activation: successful, device activated.
Aug 18 15:52:11 bxj dns-dnsmasq.sh[4559]: <debug> NETWORKMANAGER_DNS_FORWARDER is not set to "dnsmasq" in /etc/sysconfig/network>
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[1]: Stopping User Manager for UID 467...
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Activating special unit Exit the Session...
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopped target Main User Target.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopping Virtual filesystem service...
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[1]: run-user-467-gvfs.mount: Deactivated successfully.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopped Virtual filesystem service.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopped target Basic System.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopped target Paths.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopped target Sockets.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopped target Timers.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopped Daily Cleanup of User's Temporary Directories.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Closed PipeWire PulseAudio.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Closed PipeWire Multimedia System Sockets.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj dbus-broker[2225]: Dispatched 300 messages @ 3(±5)μs / message.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopping D-Bus User Message Bus...
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopped Create User Files and Directories.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Stopped D-Bus User Message Bus.
Aug 18 15:52:12 bxj systemd[2051]: Removed slice User Core Session Slice.

mhurron · August 18, 2025, 8:12pm

I believe this is a known bug with 6.16 but 6.16 had to be pushed because of a much more serious bug with btrfs.

Intel wifi being broken was mentioned in the accepted change to 6.16 Request 1298723: Submit kernel-source - openSUSE Build Service

I think this is the intel tracking bug 1246924 – System freeze after updating Kernel to 6.16-rc5

benxjones · August 18, 2025, 8:16pm

That’s the one. I’ll sit tight - no problems with continuing to work.

eclipse · August 23, 2025, 3:39am

Hello, I have what looks to be the same problem. I upgraded to 6.16 and my wifi broke.

I have tried so many things to get it working again. I tried booting back into 6.15.8, but that didn’t automatically fix the issue. I am currently writing this with a USB tether to my phone. Is there a known solution to the problem? Is there a specific version of kernel-firmware-iwlwifi I am supposed to be on?

If anyone is willing and able to help me, I can provide more information or start a new thread.

Thank you!

knurpht · August 23, 2025, 6:41pm

Please start a new thread. Show output of inxi -Na as preformatted text ( </> ).

eclipse · August 23, 2025, 7:40pm

I started a new thread. I have included the output of a bunch of relevant commands, including that one. Thanks!

kennyr87 · September 3, 2025, 12:42am

See [SOLVED] iwlwifi: Microcode SW error detected. Restarting 0x0. / Kernel & Hardware / Arch Linux Forums

The following config ended up working for my system:

Create /etc/modprobe.d/iwlmvm.conf file and change power scheme for iwlmvm module to active:

options iwlmvm power_scheme=1

Create /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf file and disable power management and 802.11n for the iwlwifi module:

options iwlwifi swcrypto=0 11n_disable=1 power_save=0 uapsd_disable=1

More details on underlying issue in: iwlwifi - Gentoo wiki . My wifi card actually still restarts, but it’s no longer followed by a kernel crash … good enough for me.

system · October 3, 2025, 12:42am

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