diff --git a/mt7996/mac.c b/mt7996/mac.c
index 92148518..37b21ad8 100644
--- a/mt7996/mac.c
+++ b/mt7996/mac.c
@@ -1084,9 +1084,9 @@ int mt7996_tx_prepare_skb(struct mt76_dev *mdev, void *txwi_ptr,
 		if (wcid->offchannel)
 			mlink = rcu_dereference(mvif->mt76.offchannel_link);
 		if (!mlink)
-			mlink = &mvif->deflink.mt76;
+			mlink = rcu_dereference(mvif->mt76.link[wcid->link_id]);
 
-		txp->fw.bss_idx = mlink->idx;
+		txp->fw.bss_idx = mlink ? mlink->idx : mvif->deflink.mt76.idx;
 	}
 
 	txp->fw.token = cpu_to_le16(id);