diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/3945-mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/3945-mac.c
index 54b2d391e91a942bbbbbe08e5ff65347a22328ac..a7dfba8d164efb1eea0cc06b4de049220281e168 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/3945-mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/3945-mac.c
@@ -2475,7 +2475,7 @@ il3945_bg_alive_start(struct work_struct *data)
 	    container_of(data, struct il_priv, alive_start.work);
 
 	mutex_lock(&il->mutex);
-	if (test_bit(S_EXIT_PENDING, &il->status))
+	if (test_bit(S_EXIT_PENDING, &il->status) || il->txq == NULL)
 		goto out;
 
 	il3945_alive_start(il);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/3945.c b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/3945.c
index 1489b1573a6a3d62384a0e1b9f7fdbb490d71126..c80eb9b315517621f41aa90b58ba8c4c6b8a896c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/3945.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/3945.c
@@ -1870,11 +1870,12 @@ il3945_bg_reg_txpower_periodic(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct il_priv *il = container_of(work, struct il_priv,
 					  _3945.thermal_periodic.work);
 
-	if (test_bit(S_EXIT_PENDING, &il->status))
-		return;
-
 	mutex_lock(&il->mutex);
+	if (test_bit(S_EXIT_PENDING, &il->status) || il->txq == NULL)
+		goto out;
+
 	il3945_reg_txpower_periodic(il);
+out:
 	mutex_unlock(&il->mutex);
 }