diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c
index ee804d4a3fd8..ae8a253c466c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath12k/mac.c
@@ -4657,6 +4657,7 @@ static int ath12k_mac_op_set_key(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, enum set_key_cmd cmd,
 
 	if (sta) {
 		ahsta = ath12k_sta_to_ahsta(sta);
+
 		/* For an ML STA Pairwise key is same for all associated link Stations,
 		 * hence do set key for all link STAs which are active.
 		 */
@@ -4679,41 +4680,47 @@ static int ath12k_mac_op_set_key(struct ieee80211_hw *hw, enum set_key_cmd cmd,
 				if (ret)
 					break;
 			}
-		} else {
-			arsta = &ahsta->deflink;
-			arvif = arsta->arvif;
-			if (WARN_ON(!arvif)) {
-				ret = -EINVAL;
-				goto out;
-			}
 
-			ret = ath12k_mac_set_key(arvif->ar, cmd, arvif, arsta, key);
-		}
-	} else {
-		if (key->link_id >= 0 && key->link_id < IEEE80211_MLD_MAX_NUM_LINKS) {
-			link_id = key->link_id;
-			arvif = wiphy_dereference(hw->wiphy, ahvif->link[link_id]);
-		} else {
-			link_id = 0;
-			arvif = &ahvif->deflink;
+			return 0;
 		}
 
-		if (!arvif || !arvif->is_created) {
-			cache = ath12k_ahvif_get_link_cache(ahvif, link_id);
-			if (!cache)
-				return -ENOSPC;
-
-			ret = ath12k_mac_update_key_cache(cache, cmd, sta, key);
+		arsta = &ahsta->deflink;
+		arvif = arsta->arvif;
+		if (WARN_ON(!arvif))
+			return -EINVAL;
 
+		ret = ath12k_mac_set_key(arvif->ar, cmd, arvif, arsta, key);
+		if (ret)
 			return ret;
-		}
 
-		ret = ath12k_mac_set_key(arvif->ar, cmd, arvif, NULL, key);
+		return 0;
 	}
 
-out:
+	if (key->link_id >= 0 && key->link_id < IEEE80211_MLD_MAX_NUM_LINKS) {
+		link_id = key->link_id;
+		arvif = wiphy_dereference(hw->wiphy, ahvif->link[link_id]);
+	} else {
+		link_id = 0;
+		arvif = &ahvif->deflink;
+	}
 
-	return ret;
+	if (!arvif || !arvif->is_created) {
+		cache = ath12k_ahvif_get_link_cache(ahvif, link_id);
+		if (!cache)
+			return -ENOSPC;
+
+		ret = ath12k_mac_update_key_cache(cache, cmd, sta, key);
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	ret = ath12k_mac_set_key(arvif->ar, cmd, arvif, NULL, key);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int