diff --git a/core/mac/src/pe/lim/lim_process_assoc_req_frame.c b/core/mac/src/pe/lim/lim_process_assoc_req_frame.c
index 3ecf3c17f6d2..2046f309a569 100644
--- a/core/mac/src/pe/lim/lim_process_assoc_req_frame.c
+++ b/core/mac/src/pe/lim/lim_process_assoc_req_frame.c
@@ -1893,7 +1893,7 @@ void lim_process_assoc_cleanup(struct mac_context *mac_ctx,
 
 		qdf_mem_free(assoc_req);
 		/* to avoid double free */
-		if (assoc_req_copied && session->parsedAssocReq)
+		if (assoc_req_copied && session->parsedAssocReq && sta_ds)
 			session->parsedAssocReq[sta_ds->assocId] = NULL;
 	}