diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/chan.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/chan.c
index c0af61992226..9b2f6f0a00fd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/chan.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/chan.c
@@ -372,8 +372,8 @@ static void rtw89_normalize_link_chanctx(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev,
 	if (unlikely(!rtwvif_link->chanctx_assigned))
 		return;
 
-	cur = rtw89_vif_get_link_inst(rtwvif, 0);
-	if (!cur || !cur->chanctx_assigned)
+	cur = rtw89_get_designated_link(rtwvif);
+	if (unlikely(!cur) || !cur->chanctx_assigned)
 		return;
 
 	if (cur == rtwvif_link)
@@ -522,8 +522,8 @@ static void rtw89_entity_recalc_mgnt_roles(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev)
 	}
 
 	/* To be consistent with legacy behavior, expect the first active role
-	 * which uses RTW89_CHANCTX_0 to put at position 0, and make its first
-	 * link instance take RTW89_CHANCTX_0. (normalizing)
+	 * which uses RTW89_CHANCTX_0 to put at position 0 and its designated
+	 * link take RTW89_CHANCTX_0. (normalizing)
 	 */
 	list_for_each_entry(role, &mgnt->active_list, mgnt_entry) {
 		for (i = 0; i < role->links_inst_valid_num; i++) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/fw.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/fw.c
index 9e88fd6d735a..f84726f04669 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/fw.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/fw.c
@@ -9027,12 +9027,9 @@ static void rtw89_hw_scan_set_extra_op_info(struct rtw89_dev *rtwdev,
 		if (tmp == scan_rtwvif)
 			continue;
 
-		tmp_link = rtw89_vif_get_link_inst(tmp, 0);
-		if (unlikely(!tmp_link)) {
-			rtw89_debug(rtwdev, RTW89_DBG_HW_SCAN,
-				    "hw scan: no HW-0 link for extra op\n");
+		tmp_link = rtw89_get_designated_link(tmp);
+		if (unlikely(!tmp_link))
 			continue;
-		}
 
 		tmp_chan = rtw89_chan_get(rtwdev, tmp_link->chanctx_idx);
 		*ext = (struct rtw89_hw_scan_extra_op){
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac80211.c
index ba71709a9bc9..315bb0d0759f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw89/mac80211.c
@@ -1438,9 +1438,9 @@ static void rtw89_ops_channel_switch_beacon(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 
 	BUILD_BUG_ON(RTW89_MLD_NON_STA_LINK_NUM != 1);
 
-	rtwvif_link = rtw89_vif_get_link_inst(rtwvif, 0);
+	rtwvif_link = rtw89_get_designated_link(rtwvif);
 	if (unlikely(!rtwvif_link)) {
-		rtw89_err(rtwdev, "chsw bcn: find no link on HW-0\n");
+		rtw89_err(rtwdev, "chsw bcn: find no designated link\n");
 		return;
 	}