diff --git a/net/mac80211/iface.c b/net/mac80211/iface.c
index 44399322f356..f75029abf728 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/iface.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/iface.c
@@ -731,7 +731,8 @@ int ieee80211_do_open(struct wireless_dev *wdev, bool coming_up)
 	    sdata->vif.type == NL80211_IFTYPE_AP_VLAN ||
 	    local->ops->wake_tx_queue) {
 		/* XXX: for AP_VLAN, actually track AP queues */
-		netif_tx_start_all_queues(dev);
+		if (dev)
+			netif_tx_start_all_queues(dev);
 	} else if (dev) {
 		unsigned long flags;
 		int n_acs = IEEE80211_NUM_ACS;