diff --git a/mt7996/mac.c b/mt7996/mac.c
index a52b4e71..d89c06f4 100644
--- a/mt7996/mac.c
+++ b/mt7996/mac.c
@@ -2334,7 +2334,6 @@ void mt7996_mac_sta_rc_work(struct work_struct *work)
 
 		changed = msta_link->changed;
 		msta_link->changed = 0;
-		spin_unlock_bh(&dev->mt76.sta_poll_lock);
 
 		sta = wcid_to_sta(&msta_link->wcid);
 		link_id = msta_link->wcid.link_id;
@@ -2354,6 +2353,8 @@ void mt7996_mac_sta_rc_work(struct work_struct *work)
 		if (!link_conf)
 			continue;
 
+		spin_unlock_bh(&dev->mt76.sta_poll_lock);
+
 		link = (struct mt7996_vif_link *)mlink;
 
 		if (changed & (IEEE80211_RC_SUPP_RATES_CHANGED |