diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/b43/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/b43/main.c
index d2b1d1f..1722941 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/b43/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/b43/main.c
@@ -4131,10 +4131,13 @@
  * because the core might be gone away while we unlocked the mutex. */
 static struct b43_wldev * b43_wireless_core_stop(struct b43_wldev *dev)
 {
-	struct b43_wl *wl = dev->wl;
+	struct b43_wl *wl;
 	struct b43_wldev *orig_dev;
 	u32 mask;
 
+	if (!dev)
+		return NULL;
+	wl = dev->wl;
 redo:
 	if (!dev || b43_status(dev) < B43_STAT_STARTED)
 		return dev;