diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.c
index 477d90284165..142b20105266 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/wmi.c
@@ -8001,12 +8001,13 @@ static void ath11k_wmi_gtk_offload_status_event(struct ath11k_base *ab,
 		return;
 	}
 
+	rcu_read_lock();
+
 	arvif = ath11k_mac_get_arvif_by_vdev_id(ab, ev->vdev_id);
 	if (!arvif) {
 		ath11k_warn(ab, "failed to get arvif for vdev_id:%d\n",
 			    ev->vdev_id);
-		kfree(tb);
-		return;
+		goto exit;
 	}
 
 	ath11k_dbg(ab, ATH11K_DBG_WMI, "wmi gtk offload event refresh_cnt %d\n",
@@ -8023,6 +8024,8 @@ static void ath11k_wmi_gtk_offload_status_event(struct ath11k_base *ab,
 
 	ieee80211_gtk_rekey_notify(arvif->vif, arvif->bssid,
 				   (void *)&replay_ctr_be, GFP_ATOMIC);
+exit:
+	rcu_read_unlock();
 
 	kfree(tb);
 }