diff --git a/net/mac80211/debugfs_sta.c b/net/mac80211/debugfs_sta.c
index c8383712fdec..6d45804d09bc 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/debugfs_sta.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/debugfs_sta.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ static ssize_t sta_flags_read(struct file *file, char __user *userbuf,
 	test_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_##flg) ? #flg "\n" : ""
 
 	int res = scnprintf(buf, sizeof(buf),
-			    "%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s",
+			    "%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s",
 			    TEST(AUTH), TEST(ASSOC), TEST(PS_STA),
 			    TEST(PS_DRIVER), TEST(AUTHORIZED),
 			    TEST(SHORT_PREAMBLE),
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ static ssize_t sta_flags_read(struct file *file, char __user *userbuf,
 			    TEST(MFP), TEST(BLOCK_BA), TEST(PSPOLL),
 			    TEST(UAPSD), TEST(SP), TEST(TDLS_PEER),
 			    TEST(TDLS_PEER_AUTH), TEST(4ADDR_EVENT),
-			    TEST(INSERTED));
+			    TEST(INSERTED), TEST(RATE_CONTROL));
 #undef TEST
 	return simple_read_from_buffer(userbuf, count, ppos, buf, res);
 }
diff --git a/net/mac80211/rate.c b/net/mac80211/rate.c
index 22fc28e9026e..111fba38be82 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/rate.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/rate.c
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ void rate_control_get_rate(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 	u32 mask;
 	u8 mcs_mask[IEEE80211_HT_MCS_MASK_LEN];
 
-	if (sta) {
+	if (sta && test_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_RATE_CONTROL)) {
 		ista = &sta->sta;
 		priv_sta = sta->rate_ctrl_priv;
 	}
diff --git a/net/mac80211/rate.h b/net/mac80211/rate.h
index 8268457bd143..5fc3135a6b45 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/rate.h
+++ b/net/mac80211/rate.h
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ static inline void rate_control_rate_init(struct sta_info *sta)
 	sband = local->hw.wiphy->bands[local->hw.conf.channel->band];
 
 	ref->ops->rate_init(ref->priv, sband, ista, priv_sta);
+	set_sta_flag(sta, WLAN_STA_RATE_CONTROL);
 }
 
 static inline void rate_control_rate_update(struct ieee80211_local *local,
diff --git a/net/mac80211/sta_info.h b/net/mac80211/sta_info.h
index 03f249bc2766..23a97c9dc042 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/sta_info.h
+++ b/net/mac80211/sta_info.h
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
  *	reply to other uAPSD trigger frames or PS-Poll.
  * @WLAN_STA_4ADDR_EVENT: 4-addr event was already sent for this frame.
  * @WLAN_STA_INSERTED: This station is inserted into the hash table.
+ * @WLAN_STA_RATE_CONTROL: rate control was initialized for this station.
  */
 enum ieee80211_sta_info_flags {
 	WLAN_STA_AUTH,
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ enum ieee80211_sta_info_flags {
 	WLAN_STA_SP,
 	WLAN_STA_4ADDR_EVENT,
 	WLAN_STA_INSERTED,
+	WLAN_STA_RATE_CONTROL,
 };
 
 #define STA_TID_NUM 16