diff --git a/drivers/staging/wfx/data_tx.c b/drivers/staging/wfx/data_tx.c
index 8db0be08daf8..41f6a604a697 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/wfx/data_tx.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/wfx/data_tx.c
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ static int wfx_get_hw_rate(struct wfx_dev *wdev,
 		}
 		return rate->idx + 14;
 	}
+	if (rate->idx >= band->n_bitrates) {
+		WARN(1, "wrong rate->idx value: %d", rate->idx);
+		return -1;
+	}
 	// WFx only support 2GHz, else band information should be retrieved
 	// from ieee80211_tx_info
 	band = wdev->hw->wiphy->bands[NL80211_BAND_2GHZ];