diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c
index bf64ab6e8484..f85fd341557e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c
@@ -4266,8 +4266,8 @@ static void ath11k_mgmt_over_wmi_tx_work(struct work_struct *work)
 		}
 
 		arvif = ath11k_vif_to_arvif(skb_cb->vif);
-		if (ar->allocated_vdev_map & (1LL << arvif->vdev_id) &&
-		    arvif->is_started) {
+		mutex_lock(&ar->conf_mutex);
+		if (ar->allocated_vdev_map & (1LL << arvif->vdev_id)) {
 			ret = ath11k_mac_mgmt_tx_wmi(ar, arvif, skb);
 			if (ret) {
 				ath11k_warn(ar->ab, "failed to tx mgmt frame, vdev_id %d :%d\n",
@@ -4283,6 +4283,7 @@ static void ath11k_mgmt_over_wmi_tx_work(struct work_struct *work)
 				    arvif->is_started);
 			ieee80211_free_txskb(ar->hw, skb);
 		}
+		mutex_unlock(&ar->conf_mutex);
 	}
 }