diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/tx.c b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/tx.c
index 0a13c2bda2ee..06fbd9ab37df 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/tx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/tx.c
@@ -268,17 +268,18 @@ static u32 iwl_mvm_get_tx_rate(struct iwl_mvm *mvm,
 	int rate_idx = -1;
 	u8 rate_plcp;
 	u32 rate_flags = 0;
-	struct iwl_mvm_sta *mvmsta = iwl_mvm_sta_from_mac80211(sta);
 
 	/* info->control is only relevant for non HW rate control */
 	if (!ieee80211_hw_check(mvm->hw, HAS_RATE_CONTROL)) {
+		struct iwl_mvm_sta *mvmsta = iwl_mvm_sta_from_mac80211(sta);
+
 		/* HT rate doesn't make sense for a non data frame */
 		WARN_ONCE(info->control.rates[0].flags & IEEE80211_TX_RC_MCS &&
 			  !ieee80211_is_data(fc),
 			  "Got a HT rate (flags:0x%x/mcs:%d/fc:0x%x/state:%d) for a non data frame\n",
 			  info->control.rates[0].flags,
 			  info->control.rates[0].idx,
-			  le16_to_cpu(fc), mvmsta->sta_state);
+			  le16_to_cpu(fc), sta ? mvmsta->sta_state : -1);
 
 		rate_idx = info->control.rates[0].idx;
 	}