diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl3945-base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl3945-base.c
index 465da4f67ce7..5751c89857f0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl3945-base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl3945-base.c
@@ -2915,6 +2915,10 @@ static void iwl_set_rate(struct iwl_priv *priv)
 	int i;
 
 	hw = iwl_get_hw_mode(priv, priv->phymode);
+	if (!hw) {
+		IWL_ERROR("Failed to set rate: unable to get hw mode\n");
+		return;
+	}
 
 	priv->active_rate = 0;
 	priv->active_rate_basic = 0;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl4965-base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl4965-base.c
index 9918780f5e86..0b22e0173576 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl4965-base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlwifi/iwl4965-base.c
@@ -3003,6 +3003,10 @@ static void iwl_set_rate(struct iwl_priv *priv)
 	int i;
 
 	hw = iwl_get_hw_mode(priv, priv->phymode);
+	if (!hw) {
+		IWL_ERROR("Failed to set rate: unable to get hw mode\n");
+		return;
+	}
 
 	priv->active_rate = 0;
 	priv->active_rate_basic = 0;