diff --git a/net/ieee802154/nl802154.c b/net/ieee802154/nl802154.c
index 2215f576ee37..1cf00cffd63f 100644
--- a/net/ieee802154/nl802154.c
+++ b/net/ieee802154/nl802154.c
@@ -1412,7 +1412,8 @@ static int nl802154_trigger_scan(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 	}
 
-	if (!nla_get_u8(info->attrs[NL802154_ATTR_SCAN_TYPE])) {
+	if (!info->attrs[NL802154_ATTR_SCAN_TYPE] ||
+	    !nla_get_u8(info->attrs[NL802154_ATTR_SCAN_TYPE])) {
 		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(info->extack, "Malformed request, missing scan type");
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}