diff --git a/net/mac80211/mlme.c b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
index 94028b541beb..ac0073c8f96f 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mlme.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
@@ -7294,7 +7294,7 @@ static int ieee80211_prep_connection(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 			sdata_info(sdata,
 				   "failed to insert STA entry for the AP (error %d)\n",
 				   err);
-			goto out_err;
+			goto out_release_chan;
 		}
 	} else
 		WARN_ON_ONCE(!ether_addr_equal(link->u.mgd.bssid, cbss->bssid));
@@ -7305,8 +7305,9 @@ static int ieee80211_prep_connection(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 
 	return 0;
 
+out_release_chan:
+	ieee80211_link_release_channel(link);
 out_err:
-	ieee80211_link_release_channel(&sdata->deflink);
 	ieee80211_vif_set_links(sdata, 0, 0);
 	return err;
 }