diff --git a/net/mac80211/mlme.c b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
index 2d3ec0156780eb0490a2d81a15bd5d1e0e0f684e..1818dbc5622d65872bb67a152d05821e63c3c6b7 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mlme.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
@@ -4922,6 +4922,10 @@ int ieee80211_mgd_auth(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 	}
 
+	if ((ifmgd->auth_data && !ifmgd->auth_data->done) ||
+	    ifmgd->assoc_data)
+		return -EBUSY;
+
 	auth_data = kzalloc(sizeof(*auth_data) + req->auth_data_len +
 			    req->ie_len, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!auth_data)
@@ -4957,12 +4961,6 @@ int ieee80211_mgd_auth(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 
 	/* try to authenticate/probe */
 
-	if ((ifmgd->auth_data && !ifmgd->auth_data->done) ||
-	    ifmgd->assoc_data) {
-		err = -EBUSY;
-		goto err_free;
-	}
-
 	if (ifmgd->auth_data)
 		ieee80211_destroy_auth_data(sdata, false);
 
@@ -5007,7 +5005,6 @@ int ieee80211_mgd_auth(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 	mutex_lock(&sdata->local->mtx);
 	ieee80211_vif_release_channel(sdata);
 	mutex_unlock(&sdata->local->mtx);
- err_free:
 	kfree(auth_data);
 	return err;
 }