diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c
index ee1590b16eff..7d574ad67e59 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/mac.c
@@ -8297,11 +8297,15 @@ static int ath11k_mac_op_set_bios_sar_specs(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 					    const struct cfg80211_sar_specs *sar)
 {
 	struct ath11k *ar = hw->priv;
-	const struct cfg80211_sar_sub_specs *sspec = sar->sub_specs;
+	const struct cfg80211_sar_sub_specs *sspec;
 	int ret, index;
 	u8 *sar_tbl;
 	u32 i;
 
+	if (!sar || sar->type != NL80211_SAR_TYPE_POWER ||
+	    sar->num_sub_specs == 0)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	mutex_lock(&ar->conf_mutex);
 
 	if (!test_bit(WMI_TLV_SERVICE_BIOS_SAR_SUPPORT, ar->ab->wmi_ab.svc_map) ||
@@ -8310,12 +8314,6 @@ static int ath11k_mac_op_set_bios_sar_specs(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		goto exit;
 	}
 
-	if (!sar || sar->type != NL80211_SAR_TYPE_POWER ||
-	    sar->num_sub_specs == 0) {
-		ret = -EINVAL;
-		goto exit;
-	}
-
 	ret = ath11k_wmi_pdev_set_bios_geo_table_param(ar);
 	if (ret) {
 		ath11k_warn(ar->ab, "failed to set geo table: %d\n", ret);
@@ -8328,6 +8326,7 @@ static int ath11k_mac_op_set_bios_sar_specs(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		goto exit;
 	}
 
+	sspec = sar->sub_specs;
 	for (i = 0; i < sar->num_sub_specs; i++) {
 		if (sspec->freq_range_index >= (BIOS_SAR_TABLE_LEN >> 1)) {
 			ath11k_warn(ar->ab, "Ignore bad frequency index %u, max allowed %u\n",