diff --git a/net/wireless/nl80211.c b/net/wireless/nl80211.c
index 6989989de092a5c948182c4bd7387e09a1c035b4..f61b74c40d28d1049b2ffd07a5710ee35e5da0c4 100644
--- a/net/wireless/nl80211.c
+++ b/net/wireless/nl80211.c
@@ -7327,9 +7327,6 @@ static int nl80211_set_tx_bitrate_mask(struct sk_buff *skb,
 	struct nlattr *tx_rates;
 	struct ieee80211_supported_band *sband;
 
-	if (info->attrs[NL80211_ATTR_TX_RATES] == NULL)
-		return -EINVAL;
-
 	if (!rdev->ops->set_bitrate_mask)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 
@@ -7347,6 +7344,10 @@ static int nl80211_set_tx_bitrate_mask(struct sk_buff *skb,
 		       sizeof(mask.control[i].mcs));
 	}
 
+	/* if no rates are given set it back to the defaults */
+	if (!info->attrs[NL80211_ATTR_TX_RATES])
+		goto out;
+
 	/*
 	 * The nested attribute uses enum nl80211_band as the index. This maps
 	 * directly to the enum ieee80211_band values used in cfg80211.
@@ -7396,6 +7397,7 @@ static int nl80211_set_tx_bitrate_mask(struct sk_buff *skb,
 		}
 	}
 
+out:
 	return rdev_set_bitrate_mask(rdev, dev, NULL, &mask);
 }