diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c
index 618eeaf6e331..dd2a7c95517b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c
@@ -3357,6 +3357,11 @@ static int ath12k_station_assoc(struct ath12k *ar,
 
 	ath12k_peer_assoc_prepare(ar, vif, sta, &peer_arg, reassoc);
 
+	if (peer_arg.peer_nss < 1) {
+		ath12k_warn(ar->ab,
+			    "invalid peer NSS %d\n", peer_arg.peer_nss);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 	ret = ath12k_wmi_send_peer_assoc_cmd(ar, &peer_arg);
 	if (ret) {
 		ath12k_warn(ar->ab, "failed to run peer assoc for STA %pM vdev %i: %d\n",