diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/common.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/common.c
index 16e2849f644d89682bc2c648e19f8930d113d67b..c86f7d3593ab48a3c1c1248443f0f2f599a327f8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/common.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/common.c
@@ -319,6 +319,10 @@ int ath9k_cmn_key_config(struct ath_common *common,
 			idx = ath_reserve_key_cache_slot(common, key->alg);
 			break;
 		case NL80211_IFTYPE_ADHOC:
+			if (!sta) {
+				idx = key->keyidx;
+				break;
+			}
 			memcpy(gmac, sta->addr, ETH_ALEN);
 			gmac[0] |= 0x01;
 			mac = gmac;