diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar5523/ar5523.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar5523/ar5523.c
index 4c57e79e5779a..58e189ec672f9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar5523/ar5523.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ar5523/ar5523.c
@@ -153,6 +153,10 @@ static void ar5523_cmd_rx_cb(struct urb *urb)
 			ar5523_err(ar, "Invalid reply to WDCMSG_TARGET_START");
 			return;
 		}
+		if (!cmd->odata) {
+			ar5523_err(ar, "Unexpected WDCMSG_TARGET_START reply");
+			return;
+		}
 		memcpy(cmd->odata, hdr + 1, sizeof(u32));
 		cmd->olen = sizeof(u32);
 		cmd->res = 0;