diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
index dc8968de012d..43398e06454f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
@@ -6279,15 +6279,6 @@ static int ath10k_sta_state(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 			   ar->num_stations + 1, ar->max_num_stations,
 			   ar->num_peers + 1, ar->max_num_peers);
 
-		if (ath10k_debug_is_extd_tx_stats_enabled(ar)) {
-			arsta->tx_stats = kzalloc(sizeof(*arsta->tx_stats),
-						  GFP_KERNEL);
-			if (!arsta->tx_stats) {
-				ret = -ENOMEM;
-				goto exit;
-			}
-		}
-
 		num_tdls_stations = ath10k_mac_tdls_vif_stations_count(hw, vif);
 
 		if (sta->tdls) {
@@ -6308,12 +6299,22 @@ static int ath10k_sta_state(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 			goto exit;
 		}
 
+		if (ath10k_debug_is_extd_tx_stats_enabled(ar)) {
+			arsta->tx_stats = kzalloc(sizeof(*arsta->tx_stats),
+						  GFP_KERNEL);
+			if (!arsta->tx_stats) {
+				ret = -ENOMEM;
+				goto exit;
+			}
+		}
+
 		ret = ath10k_peer_create(ar, vif, sta, arvif->vdev_id,
 					 sta->addr, peer_type);
 		if (ret) {
 			ath10k_warn(ar, "failed to add peer %pM for vdev %d when adding a new sta: %i\n",
 				    sta->addr, arvif->vdev_id, ret);
 			ath10k_mac_dec_num_stations(arvif, sta);
+			kfree(arsta->tx_stats);
 			goto exit;
 		}
 
@@ -6326,6 +6327,7 @@ static int ath10k_sta_state(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 			spin_unlock_bh(&ar->data_lock);
 			ath10k_peer_delete(ar, arvif->vdev_id, sta->addr);
 			ath10k_mac_dec_num_stations(arvif, sta);
+			kfree(arsta->tx_stats);
 			ret = -ENOENT;
 			goto exit;
 		}
@@ -6346,6 +6348,7 @@ static int ath10k_sta_state(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 			ath10k_peer_delete(ar, arvif->vdev_id,
 					   sta->addr);
 			ath10k_mac_dec_num_stations(arvif, sta);
+			kfree(arsta->tx_stats);
 			goto exit;
 		}
 
@@ -6357,6 +6360,7 @@ static int ath10k_sta_state(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 				    sta->addr, arvif->vdev_id, ret);
 			ath10k_peer_delete(ar, arvif->vdev_id, sta->addr);
 			ath10k_mac_dec_num_stations(arvif, sta);
+			kfree(arsta->tx_stats);
 
 			if (num_tdls_stations != 0)
 				goto exit;