diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c
index 373dcfe..d77ce99 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c
@@ -1327,6 +1327,10 @@
 			PCI_DMA_TODEVICE);
 
 	rate = ieee80211_get_tx_rate(sc->hw, info);
+	if (!rate) {
+		ret = -EINVAL;
+		goto err_unmap;
+	}
 
 	if (info->flags & IEEE80211_TX_CTL_NO_ACK)
 		flags |= AR5K_TXDESC_NOACK;