diff --git a/mt7996/main.c b/mt7996/main.c
index 3d33dd80..7363db30 100644
--- a/mt7996/main.c
+++ b/mt7996/main.c
@@ -392,7 +392,8 @@ void mt7996_vif_link_remove(struct mt76_phy *mphy, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 	};
 	int idx = msta_link->wcid.idx;
 
-	ieee80211_iter_keys(mphy->hw, vif, mt7996_key_iter, &it);
+	if (!mlink->wcid->offchannel)
+		ieee80211_iter_keys(mphy->hw, vif, mt7996_key_iter, &it);
 
 	mt7996_mcu_add_sta(dev, link_conf, NULL, link, NULL,
 			   CONN_STATE_DISCONNECT, false);