diff --git a/net/mac80211/mlme.c b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
index 4c40f0427e88..5265d2b6db12 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mlme.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
@@ -3420,11 +3420,11 @@ static void ieee80211_destroy_auth_data(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 		ieee80211_link_info_change_notify(sdata, &sdata->deflink,
 						  BSS_CHANGED_BSSID);
 		sdata->u.mgd.flags = 0;
+
 		mutex_lock(&sdata->local->mtx);
 		ieee80211_link_release_channel(&sdata->deflink);
-		mutex_unlock(&sdata->local->mtx);
-
 		ieee80211_vif_set_links(sdata, 0);
+		mutex_unlock(&sdata->local->mtx);
 	}
 
 	cfg80211_put_bss(sdata->local->hw.wiphy, auth_data->bss);
@@ -3462,10 +3462,6 @@ static void ieee80211_destroy_assoc_data(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 		sdata->u.mgd.flags = 0;
 		sdata->vif.bss_conf.mu_mimo_owner = false;
 
-		mutex_lock(&sdata->local->mtx);
-		ieee80211_link_release_channel(&sdata->deflink);
-		mutex_unlock(&sdata->local->mtx);
-
 		if (status != ASSOC_REJECTED) {
 			struct cfg80211_assoc_failure data = {
 				.timeout = status == ASSOC_TIMEOUT,
@@ -3484,7 +3480,10 @@ static void ieee80211_destroy_assoc_data(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 			cfg80211_assoc_failure(sdata->dev, &data);
 		}
 
+		mutex_lock(&sdata->local->mtx);
+		ieee80211_link_release_channel(&sdata->deflink);
 		ieee80211_vif_set_links(sdata, 0);
+		mutex_unlock(&sdata->local->mtx);
 	}
 
 	kfree(assoc_data);