diff --git a/drivers/staging/r8188eu/core/rtw_mlme_ext.c b/drivers/staging/r8188eu/core/rtw_mlme_ext.c
index 742976c38cd5..40df0f9982f4 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/r8188eu/core/rtw_mlme_ext.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/r8188eu/core/rtw_mlme_ext.c
@@ -1477,21 +1477,21 @@ unsigned int OnDeAuth(struct adapter *padapter, struct recv_frame *precv_frame)
 	if (check_fwstate(pmlmepriv, WIFI_AP_STATE)) {
 		struct sta_info *psta;
 		struct sta_priv *pstapriv = &padapter->stapriv;
+		u8 updated = 0;
 
 		psta = rtw_get_stainfo(pstapriv, mgmt->sa);
-		if (psta) {
-			u8 updated = 0;
+		if (!psta)
+			return _SUCCESS;
 
-			spin_lock_bh(&pstapriv->asoc_list_lock);
-			if (!list_empty(&psta->asoc_list)) {
-				list_del_init(&psta->asoc_list);
-				pstapriv->asoc_list_cnt--;
-				updated = ap_free_sta(padapter, psta, false, reason);
-			}
-			spin_unlock_bh(&pstapriv->asoc_list_lock);
-
-			associated_clients_update(padapter, updated);
+		spin_lock_bh(&pstapriv->asoc_list_lock);
+		if (!list_empty(&psta->asoc_list)) {
+			list_del_init(&psta->asoc_list);
+			pstapriv->asoc_list_cnt--;
+			updated = ap_free_sta(padapter, psta, false, reason);
 		}
+		spin_unlock_bh(&pstapriv->asoc_list_lock);
+
+		associated_clients_update(padapter, updated);
 
 		return _SUCCESS;
 	} else {