diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/tx.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/tx.c
index 88444fe6d1c64..f9e1306ac74fe 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/tx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/tx.c
@@ -1558,6 +1558,9 @@ static struct carl9170_vif_info *carl9170_pick_beaconing_vif(struct ar9170 *ar)
 					goto out;
 			}
 		} while (ar->beacon_enabled && i--);
+
+		/* no entry found in list */
+		return NULL;
 	}
 
 out: