diff --git a/net/mac80211/sta_info.c b/net/mac80211/sta_info.c
index dd1864f6549f..e9ae92094794 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/sta_info.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/sta_info.c
@@ -357,8 +357,9 @@ static void sta_remove_link(struct sta_info *sta, unsigned int link_id,
 	struct sta_link_alloc *alloc = NULL;
 	struct link_sta_info *link_sta;
 
-	link_sta = rcu_dereference_protected(sta->link[link_id],
-					     lockdep_is_held(&sta->local->sta_mtx));
+	link_sta = rcu_access_pointer(sta->link[link_id]);
+	if (link_sta != &sta->deflink)
+		lockdep_assert_held(&sta->local->sta_mtx);
 
 	if (WARN_ON(!link_sta))
 		return;