diff --git a/net/mac80211/main.c b/net/mac80211/main.c
index 5b3189a37680..f215218a88c9 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/main.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/main.c
@@ -1113,8 +1113,11 @@ int ieee80211_register_hw(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 	if (local->hw.wiphy->max_scan_ie_len)
 		local->hw.wiphy->max_scan_ie_len -= local->scan_ies_len;
 
-	WARN_ON(!ieee80211_cs_list_valid(local->hw.cipher_schemes,
-					 local->hw.n_cipher_schemes));
+	if (WARN_ON(!ieee80211_cs_list_valid(local->hw.cipher_schemes,
+					     local->hw.n_cipher_schemes))) {
+		result = -EINVAL;
+		goto fail_workqueue;
+	}
 
 	result = ieee80211_init_cipher_suites(local);
 	if (result < 0)