diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/rtl8180_max2820.c b/drivers/net/wireless/rtl8180_max2820.c
index a34dfd382b6d..a140c802264a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/rtl8180_max2820.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/rtl8180_max2820.c
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ static void max2820_rf_set_channel(struct ieee80211_hw *dev,
 				   struct ieee80211_conf *conf)
 {
 	struct rtl8180_priv *priv = dev->priv;
-	int channel = ieee80211_frequency_to_channel(conf->channel->center_freq);
+	int channel = conf ?
+		ieee80211_frequency_to_channel(conf->channel->center_freq) : 1;
 	unsigned int chan_idx = channel - 1;
 	u32 txpw = priv->channels[chan_idx].hw_value & 0xFF;
 	u32 chan = max2820_chan[chan_idx];