diff --git a/net/mac80211/sta_info.c b/net/mac80211/sta_info.c
index 7d68dbc872d7..941bda9141fa 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/sta_info.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/sta_info.c
@@ -1264,7 +1264,8 @@ static int __must_check __sta_info_destroy_part1(struct sta_info *sta)
 	list_del_rcu(&sta->list);
 	sta->removed = true;
 
-	drv_sta_pre_rcu_remove(local, sta->sdata, sta);
+	if (sta->uploaded)
+		drv_sta_pre_rcu_remove(local, sta->sdata, sta);
 
 	if (sdata->vif.type == NL80211_IFTYPE_AP_VLAN &&
 	    rcu_access_pointer(sdata->u.vlan.sta) == sta)