diff --git a/net/wireless/util.c b/net/wireless/util.c
index 39680e7bad45a..f433f3fdd9e94 100644
--- a/net/wireless/util.c
+++ b/net/wireless/util.c
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  * Copyright 2007-2009	Johannes Berg <johannes@sipsolutions.net>
  * Copyright 2013-2014  Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
  * Copyright 2017	Intel Deutschland GmbH
- * Copyright (C) 2018-2022 Intel Corporation
+ * Copyright (C) 2018-2023 Intel Corporation
  */
 #include <linux/export.h>
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
@@ -2479,6 +2479,13 @@ void cfg80211_remove_links(struct wireless_dev *wdev)
 {
 	unsigned int link_id;
 
+	/*
+	 * links are controlled by upper layers (userspace/cfg)
+	 * only for AP mode, so only remove them here for AP
+	 */
+	if (wdev->iftype != NL80211_IFTYPE_AP)
+		return;
+
 	wdev_lock(wdev);
 	if (wdev->valid_links) {
 		for_each_valid_link(wdev, link_id)