diff --git a/net/mac80211/mlme.c b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
index f51167f0fc46..3c31c16860ab 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mlme.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
@@ -5877,6 +5877,7 @@ static bool ieee80211_assoc_config_link(struct ieee80211_link_data *link,
 	bool is_6ghz = cbss->channel->band == NL80211_BAND_6GHZ;
 	bool is_s1g = cbss->channel->band == NL80211_BAND_S1GHZ;
 	const struct cfg80211_bss_ies *bss_ies = NULL;
+	struct ieee802_11_elems *bss_elems = NULL;
 	struct ieee80211_supported_band *sband;
 	struct ieee802_11_elems *elems;
 	u16 capab_info;
@@ -6007,7 +6008,6 @@ static bool ieee80211_assoc_config_link(struct ieee80211_link_data *link,
 	     (is_5ghz && link->u.mgd.conn.mode >= IEEE80211_CONN_MODE_VHT &&
 	      (!elems->vht_cap_elem || !elems->vht_operation)))) {
 		const struct cfg80211_bss_ies *ies;
-		struct ieee802_11_elems *bss_elems;
 
 		rcu_read_lock();
 		ies = rcu_dereference(cbss->ies);
@@ -6069,7 +6069,6 @@ static bool ieee80211_assoc_config_link(struct ieee80211_link_data *link,
 					   "AP bug: VHT operation missing from AssocResp\n");
 			}
 		}
-		kfree(bss_elems);
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -6342,6 +6341,7 @@ static bool ieee80211_assoc_config_link(struct ieee80211_link_data *link,
 	ret = true;
 out:
 	kfree(elems);
+	kfree(bss_elems);
 	kfree(bss_ies);
 	return ret;
 }