diff --git a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_rate.c b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_rate.c
index 91a9fe2..93abb8f 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_rate.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_rate.c
@@ -145,8 +145,7 @@
 	struct rate_control_ref *ref, *old;
 
 	ASSERT_RTNL();
-	if (local->open_count || netif_running(local->mdev) ||
-	    (local->apdev && netif_running(local->apdev)))
+	if (local->open_count || netif_running(local->mdev))
 		return -EBUSY;
 
 	ref = rate_control_alloc(name, local);