diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
index d59dd01d6cde..efb7f00f3561 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
@@ -1001,13 +1001,13 @@ static void ath_buf_set_rate(struct ath_softc *sc, struct ath_buf *bf,
 		}
 
 		/* legacy rates */
+		rate = &sc->sbands[tx_info->band].bitrates[rates[i].idx];
 		if ((tx_info->band == IEEE80211_BAND_2GHZ) &&
 		    !(rate->flags & IEEE80211_RATE_ERP_G))
 			phy = WLAN_RC_PHY_CCK;
 		else
 			phy = WLAN_RC_PHY_OFDM;
 
-		rate = &sc->sbands[tx_info->band].bitrates[rates[i].idx];
 		info->rates[i].Rate = rate->hw_value;
 		if (rate->hw_value_short) {
 			if (rates[i].flags & IEEE80211_TX_RC_USE_SHORT_PREAMBLE)