diff --git a/net/mac80211/tx.c b/net/mac80211/tx.c
index 7a637b80a62e..e2d33cf0c407 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/tx.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/tx.c
@@ -2207,6 +2207,9 @@ struct sk_buff *ieee80211_beacon_get_tim(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 
 	sdata = vif_to_sdata(vif);
 
+	if (!ieee80211_sdata_running(sdata))
+		goto out;
+
 	if (tim_offset)
 		*tim_offset = 0;
 	if (tim_length)