diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/tx.c b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/tx.c
index 3adb1acc0719..ce5f2bdde138 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/tx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/tx.c
@@ -1145,6 +1145,9 @@ static int iwl_mvm_tx_mpdu(struct iwl_mvm *mvm, struct sk_buff *skb,
 	bool is_ampdu = false;
 	int hdrlen;
 
+	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!sta))
+		return -1;
+
 	mvmsta = iwl_mvm_sta_from_mac80211(sta);
 	fc = hdr->frame_control;
 	hdrlen = ieee80211_hdrlen(fc);
@@ -1152,9 +1155,6 @@ static int iwl_mvm_tx_mpdu(struct iwl_mvm *mvm, struct sk_buff *skb,
 	if (IWL_MVM_NON_TRANSMITTING_AP && ieee80211_is_probe_resp(fc))
 		return -1;
 
-	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!mvmsta))
-		return -1;
-
 	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(mvmsta->deflink.sta_id == IWL_MVM_INVALID_STA))
 		return -1;
 
@@ -1285,7 +1285,7 @@ drop:
 int iwl_mvm_tx_skb_sta(struct iwl_mvm *mvm, struct sk_buff *skb,
 		       struct ieee80211_sta *sta)
 {
-	struct iwl_mvm_sta *mvmsta = iwl_mvm_sta_from_mac80211(sta);
+	struct iwl_mvm_sta *mvmsta;
 	struct ieee80211_tx_info info;
 	struct sk_buff_head mpdus_skbs;
 	struct ieee80211_vif *vif;
@@ -1294,9 +1294,11 @@ int iwl_mvm_tx_skb_sta(struct iwl_mvm *mvm, struct sk_buff *skb,
 	struct sk_buff *orig_skb = skb;
 	const u8 *addr3;
 
-	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!mvmsta))
+	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!sta))
 		return -1;
 
+	mvmsta = iwl_mvm_sta_from_mac80211(sta);
+
 	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(mvmsta->deflink.sta_id == IWL_MVM_INVALID_STA))
 		return -1;