diff --git a/net/mac80211/cfg.c b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
index 87fddd84c621..0cfe338196d7 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/cfg.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
@@ -520,8 +520,10 @@ static int ieee80211_del_key(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *dev,
 			key = key_mtx_dereference(local, sta->ptk[key_idx]);
 		else
 			key = key_mtx_dereference(local, sta->gtk[key_idx]);
-	} else
-		key = key_mtx_dereference(local, sdata->keys[key_idx]);
+	} else {
+		if (key_idx < (NUM_DEFAULT_KEYS + NUM_DEFAULT_MGMT_KEYS + NUM_DEFAULT_BEACON_KEYS))
+			key = key_mtx_dereference(local, sdata->keys[key_idx]);
+	}
 
 	if (!key) {
 		ret = -ENOENT;