diff --git a/include/linux/ieee80211.h b/include/linux/ieee80211.h
index ac5be38d8aaf..4fd9735bb75e 100644
--- a/include/linux/ieee80211.h
+++ b/include/linux/ieee80211.h
@@ -5166,7 +5166,7 @@ static inline bool ieee80211_mle_size_ok(const u8 *data, size_t len)
 	bool check_common_len = false;
 	u16 control;
 
-	if (len < fixed)
+	if (!data || len < fixed)
 		return false;
 
 	control = le16_to_cpu(mle->control);