diff --git a/core/wma/src/wma_dev_if.c b/core/wma/src/wma_dev_if.c
index 1d21ec5f5080..19b50ae606ae 100644
--- a/core/wma/src/wma_dev_if.c
+++ b/core/wma/src/wma_dev_if.c
@@ -1177,6 +1177,11 @@ QDF_STATUS wma_vdev_start_resp_handler(struct vdev_mlme_obj *vdev_mlme,
 	}
 
 	mlme_psoc_obj = mlme_get_psoc_ext_obj(psoc);
+	if (!mlme_psoc_obj) {
+		wma_err("Failed to get mlme_psoc");
+		return QDF_STATUS_E_FAILURE;
+	}
+
 	ratemask_cfg = &mlme_psoc_obj->cfg.ratemask_cfg;
 
 	if (!mac_ctx) {