diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c
index b9b95f7f1f60..58deddab5f50 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c
@@ -8049,16 +8049,16 @@ int ath12k_mac_op_change_sta_links(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 			continue;
 
 		arvif = wiphy_dereference(hw->wiphy, ahvif->link[link_id]);
-		arsta = ath12k_mac_alloc_assign_link_sta(ah, ahsta, ahvif, link_id);
+		if (!arvif || !arvif->is_created)
+			continue;
 
-		if (!arvif || !arsta) {
+		arsta = ath12k_mac_alloc_assign_link_sta(ah, ahsta, ahvif, link_id);
+		if (!arsta) {
 			ath12k_hw_warn(ah, "Failed to alloc/assign link sta");
 			continue;
 		}
 
 		ar = arvif->ar;
-		if (!ar)
-			continue;
 
 		ret = ath12k_mac_station_add(ar, arvif, arsta);
 		if (ret) {