diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl-3945.c b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl-3945.c
index dcc1552c0464b..effeabb031b5d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl-3945.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl-3945.c
@@ -1872,11 +1872,12 @@ static void iwl3945_bg_reg_txpower_periodic(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct iwl_priv *priv = container_of(work, struct iwl_priv,
 					     _3945.thermal_periodic.work);
 
-	if (test_bit(STATUS_EXIT_PENDING, &priv->status))
-		return;
-
 	mutex_lock(&priv->mutex);
+	if (test_bit(STATUS_EXIT_PENDING, &priv->status) || priv->txq == NULL)
+		goto out;
+
 	iwl3945_reg_txpower_periodic(priv);
+out:
 	mutex_unlock(&priv->mutex);
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl3945-base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl3945-base.c
index a9355856e2e20..101a2c2fe177b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl3945-base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl3945-base.c
@@ -2763,7 +2763,7 @@ static void iwl3945_bg_alive_start(struct work_struct *data)
 	    container_of(data, struct iwl_priv, alive_start.work);
 
 	mutex_lock(&priv->mutex);
-	if (test_bit(STATUS_EXIT_PENDING, &priv->status))
+	if (test_bit(STATUS_EXIT_PENDING, &priv->status) || priv->txq == NULL)
 		goto out;
 
 	iwl3945_alive_start(priv);