diff --git a/src/freedombone b/src/freedombone
index 2ff4480b..63a4acee 100755
--- a/src/freedombone
+++ b/src/freedombone
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ if [ ! $COMPLETION_FILE ]; then
     COMPLETION_FILE=$HOME/${PROJECT_NAME}-completed.txt
 fi
 
+# before the interactive config so that wifi adaptors may be detected
+setup_wifi_atheros
+
 if [[ $command_options == "menuconfig"* ]]; then
     if [[ "$2" == "--reset" ]]; then
         if [ -f $CONFIGURATION_FILE ]; then
diff --git a/src/freedombone-utils-wifi b/src/freedombone-utils-wifi
index ecd36d12..c71d0845 100755
--- a/src/freedombone-utils-wifi
+++ b/src/freedombone-utils-wifi
@@ -39,6 +39,27 @@ WIFI_NETWORKS_FILE=~/${PROJECT_NAME}-wifi.cfg
 # repo for atheros AR9271 wifi driver
 ATHEROS_WIFI_REPO="https://github.com/qca/open-ath9k-htc-firmware.git"
 
+function setup_wifi_atheros {
+    atheros_drivers_file=drivers/ath9k_htc_driver_bbb.tar.gz
+    if [ ! -f $atheros_drivers_file ]; then
+        if [ ! -f ~/freedombone/$atheros_drivers_file ]; then
+            return
+        else
+            atheros_drivers_file=drivers/$atheros_drivers_file
+        fi
+    fi
+    if [ ! -d /lib/firmware ]; then
+        return
+    fi
+    if [ -f /lib/firmware/htc_9271.fw ]; then
+        return
+    fi
+    curr_dir=$(pwd)
+    cd /lib/firmware
+    tar -xzvf $atheros_drivers_file
+    cd $curr_dir
+}
+
 function setup_wifi {
     if [[ $SYSTEM_TYPE == "mesh"* ]]; then
         return