diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
index 0ac9212e42f7..4a0f465aa2fe 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/xmit.c
@@ -1993,7 +1993,6 @@ void ath_txq_schedule(struct ath_softc *sc, struct ath_txq *txq)
 
 	ieee80211_txq_schedule_start(hw, txq->mac80211_qnum);
 	spin_lock_bh(&sc->chan_lock);
-	rcu_read_lock();
 
 	if (sc->cur_chan->stopped)
 		goto out;
@@ -2011,7 +2010,6 @@ void ath_txq_schedule(struct ath_softc *sc, struct ath_txq *txq)
 	}
 
 out:
-	rcu_read_unlock();
 	spin_unlock_bh(&sc->chan_lock);
 	ieee80211_txq_schedule_end(hw, txq->mac80211_qnum);
 }