diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
index ad79880ebfafa84fa84d1f7b4c35a48000fbc3e9..982dbf666a153c4f442e854c6d9c1d680e57976f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
@@ -1535,7 +1535,9 @@ static int ath6kl_cfg80211_del_iface(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 
 	ath6kl_cfg80211_vif_stop(vif, test_bit(WMI_READY, &ar->flag));
 
+	rtnl_lock();
 	ath6kl_cfg80211_vif_cleanup(vif);
+	rtnl_unlock();
 
 	return 0;
 }