diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c
index 7bc012fca059481edc31f42eab8f3d3832f5db42..0676c6d84383082ab18e7ac1e1657f0271656418 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/base.c
@@ -2751,6 +2751,11 @@ static int ath5k_add_interface(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
 		goto end;
 	}
+
+	/* Set to a reasonable value. Note that this will
+	 * be set to mac80211's value at ath5k_config(). */
+	sc->bintval = 1000;
+
 	ret = 0;
 end:
 	mutex_unlock(&sc->lock);
@@ -2795,9 +2800,6 @@ ath5k_config_interface(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 	struct ath5k_hw *ah = sc->ah;
 	int ret;
 
-	/* Set to a reasonable value. Note that this will
-	 * be set to mac80211's value at ath5k_config(). */
-	sc->bintval = 1000;
 	mutex_lock(&sc->lock);
 	if (sc->vif != vif) {
 		ret = -EIO;