diff --git a/net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c b/net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c
index f3c6a41e4911..8346d3eb1143 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/debugfs_netdev.c
@@ -729,6 +729,9 @@ static ssize_t ieee80211_if_parse_active_links(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sda
 	if (kstrtou16(buf, 0, &active_links) || !active_links)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	if (!ieee80211_sdata_running(sdata))
+		return -ENETDOWN;
+
 	return ieee80211_set_active_links(&sdata->vif, active_links) ?: buflen;
 }
 IEEE80211_IF_FILE_RW(active_links);