diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc.h
index 237f4ec2cffd..6c33e898b300 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc.h
@@ -306,7 +306,6 @@ struct ath9k_htc_tx {
 	DECLARE_BITMAP(tx_slot, MAX_TX_BUF_NUM);
 	struct timer_list cleanup_timer;
 	spinlock_t tx_lock;
-	bool initialized;
 };
 
 struct ath9k_htc_tx_ctl {
@@ -515,6 +514,7 @@ struct ath9k_htc_priv {
 	unsigned long ps_usecount;
 	bool ps_enabled;
 	bool ps_idle;
+	bool initialized;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MAC80211_LEDS
 	enum led_brightness brightness;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_init.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_init.c
index 0aa5bdeb44a1..3633f9eb2c55 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_init.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_init.c
@@ -966,6 +966,10 @@ int ath9k_htc_probe_device(struct htc_target *htc_handle, struct device *dev,
 
 	htc_handle->drv_priv = priv;
 
+	/* Allow ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet() to operate. */
+	smp_wmb();
+	priv->initialized = true;
+
 	return 0;
 
 err_init:
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_txrx.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_txrx.c
index efcaeccb055a..ce9c04e418b8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_txrx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_txrx.c
@@ -815,10 +815,6 @@ int ath9k_tx_init(struct ath9k_htc_priv *priv)
 	skb_queue_head_init(&priv->tx.data_vo_queue);
 	skb_queue_head_init(&priv->tx.tx_failed);
 
-	/* Allow ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet(WMI_TXSTATUS_EVENTID) to operate. */
-	smp_wmb();
-	priv->tx.initialized = true;
-
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/wmi.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/wmi.c
index 1476b42b52a9..805ad31edba2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/wmi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/wmi.c
@@ -155,6 +155,12 @@ void ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet(struct tasklet_struct *t)
 		}
 		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&wmi->wmi_lock, flags);
 
+		/* Check if ath9k_htc_probe_device() completed. */
+		if (!data_race(priv->initialized)) {
+			kfree_skb(skb);
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		hdr = (struct wmi_cmd_hdr *) skb->data;
 		cmd_id = be16_to_cpu(hdr->command_id);
 		wmi_event = skb_pull(skb, sizeof(struct wmi_cmd_hdr));
@@ -169,10 +175,6 @@ void ath9k_wmi_event_tasklet(struct tasklet_struct *t)
 					     &wmi->drv_priv->fatal_work);
 			break;
 		case WMI_TXSTATUS_EVENTID:
-			/* Check if ath9k_tx_init() completed. */
-			if (!data_race(priv->tx.initialized))
-				break;
-
 			spin_lock_bh(&priv->tx.tx_lock);
 			if (priv->tx.flags & ATH9K_HTC_OP_TX_DRAIN) {
 				spin_unlock_bh(&priv->tx.tx_lock);