diff --git a/net/mac80211/mlme.c b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
index 1e3b9d34aaa4..c7d8044ff0fa 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mlme.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
@@ -2959,7 +2959,7 @@ static void ieee80211_rx_mgmt_auth(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 	    (auth_transaction == 2 &&
 	     ifmgd->auth_data->expected_transaction == 2)) {
 		if (!ieee80211_mark_sta_auth(sdata, bssid))
-			goto out_err;
+			return; /* ignore frame -- wait for timeout */
 	} else if (ifmgd->auth_data->algorithm == WLAN_AUTH_SAE &&
 		   auth_transaction == 2) {
 		sdata_info(sdata, "SAE peer confirmed\n");
@@ -2967,10 +2967,6 @@ static void ieee80211_rx_mgmt_auth(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 	}
 
 	cfg80211_rx_mlme_mgmt(sdata->dev, (u8 *)mgmt, len);
-	return;
- out_err:
-	mutex_unlock(&sdata->local->sta_mtx);
-	/* ignore frame -- wait for timeout */
 }
 
 #define case_WLAN(type) \