diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
index fc76052c0721..6bcf62fd3da8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
@@ -2006,6 +2006,9 @@ static void setup_frame_info(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		fi->keyix = ATH9K_TXKEYIX_INVALID;
 	fi->keytype = keytype;
 	fi->framelen = framelen;
+
+	if (!rate)
+		return;
 	fi->rtscts_rate = rate->hw_value;
 	if (short_preamble)
 		fi->rtscts_rate |= rate->hw_value_short;