diff --git a/net/mac80211/mlme.c b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
index c0711082a2b8..1875181ebd94 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mlme.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
@@ -2453,6 +2453,12 @@ static void ieee80211_destroy_auth_data(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 	sdata_assert_lock(sdata);
 
 	if (!assoc) {
+		/*
+		 * we are not authenticated yet, the only timer that could be
+		 * running is the timeout for the authentication response which
+		 * which is not relevant anymore.
+		 */
+		del_timer_sync(&sdata->u.mgd.timer);
 		sta_info_destroy_addr(sdata, auth_data->bss->bssid);
 
 		memset(sdata->u.mgd.bssid, 0, ETH_ALEN);
@@ -2760,6 +2766,12 @@ static void ieee80211_destroy_assoc_data(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 	sdata_assert_lock(sdata);
 
 	if (!assoc) {
+		/*
+		 * we are not associated yet, the only timer that could be
+		 * running is the timeout for the association response which
+		 * which is not relevant anymore.
+		 */
+		del_timer_sync(&sdata->u.mgd.timer);
 		sta_info_destroy_addr(sdata, assoc_data->bss->bssid);
 
 		memset(sdata->u.mgd.bssid, 0, ETH_ALEN);