diff --git a/net/mac80211/cfg.c b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
index a354f1939e49..fb15d3b97cb2 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/cfg.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
@@ -2727,12 +2727,6 @@ static int ieee80211_set_bitrate_mask(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 	if (!ieee80211_sdata_running(sdata))
 		return -ENETDOWN;
 
-	if (ieee80211_hw_check(&local->hw, HAS_RATE_CONTROL)) {
-		ret = drv_set_bitrate_mask(local, sdata, mask);
-		if (ret)
-			return ret;
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * If active validate the setting and reject it if it doesn't leave
 	 * at least one basic rate usable, since we really have to be able
@@ -2748,6 +2742,12 @@ static int ieee80211_set_bitrate_mask(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 			return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	if (ieee80211_hw_check(&local->hw, HAS_RATE_CONTROL)) {
+		ret = drv_set_bitrate_mask(local, sdata, mask);
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+	}
+
 	for (i = 0; i < NUM_NL80211_BANDS; i++) {
 		struct ieee80211_supported_band *sband = wiphy->bands[i];
 		int j;