diff --git a/net/mac80211/cfg.c b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
index 23f4f9ec86d0..1f074799f85f 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/cfg.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
@@ -4113,6 +4113,9 @@ static int ieee80211_set_bitrate_mask(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 	if (!ieee80211_sdata_running(sdata))
 		return -ENETDOWN;
 
+	if (!(sdata->flags & IEEE80211_SDATA_IN_DRIVER))
+		return -ENETDOWN;
+
 	/*
 	 * If active validate the setting and reject it if it doesn't leave
 	 * at least one basic rate usable, since we really have to be able