diff --git a/mt7996/main.c b/mt7996/main.c
index 54d1aac9..1f2b04dc 100644
--- a/mt7996/main.c
+++ b/mt7996/main.c
@@ -372,7 +372,8 @@ int mt7996_vif_link_add(struct mt76_phy *mphy, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 				   CONN_STATE_PORT_SECURE, true);
 	rcu_assign_pointer(dev->mt76.wcid[idx], &msta_link->wcid);
 
-	ieee80211_iter_keys(mphy->hw, vif, mt7996_key_iter, &it);
+	if (!mlink->wcid->offchannel)
+		ieee80211_iter_keys(mphy->hw, vif, mt7996_key_iter, &it);
 
 	if (!mlink->wcid->offchannel) {
 		if (vif->txq &&