diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc.h
index 0a1634238e67..4f71e962279a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc.h
@@ -281,6 +281,7 @@ struct ath9k_htc_rxbuf {
 struct ath9k_htc_rx {
 	struct list_head rxbuf;
 	spinlock_t rxbuflock;
+	bool initialized;
 };
 
 #define ATH9K_HTC_TX_CLEANUP_INTERVAL 50 /* ms */
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_txrx.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_txrx.c
index 8e69e8989f6d..0d4595ee51ba 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_txrx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_txrx.c
@@ -1130,6 +1130,9 @@ void ath9k_htc_rxep(void *drv_priv, struct sk_buff *skb,
 	struct ath9k_htc_rxbuf *rxbuf = NULL, *tmp_buf = NULL;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
+	/* Check if ath9k_rx_init() completed. */
+	if (!data_race(priv->rx.initialized))
+		goto err;
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&priv->rx.rxbuflock, flags);
 	list_for_each_entry(tmp_buf, &priv->rx.rxbuf, list) {
 		if (!tmp_buf->in_process) {
@@ -1185,6 +1188,9 @@ int ath9k_rx_init(struct ath9k_htc_priv *priv)
 		list_add_tail(&rxbuf->list, &priv->rx.rxbuf);
 	}
 
+	/* Allow ath9k_htc_rxep() to operate. */
+	smp_wmb();
+	priv->rx.initialized = true;
 	return 0;
 
 err: