diff --git a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
index cb9cfcad86..4e7141ad9a 100644
--- a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
+++ b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
@@ -6883,11 +6883,16 @@ void hdd_set_netdev_flags(struct hdd_adapter *adapter)
 		hdd_err("invalid input!");
 		return;
 	}
+	device_mode = adapter->device_mode;
 
 	hdd_ctx = adapter->hdd_ctx;
-	device_mode = adapter->device_mode;
 	soc = cds_get_context(QDF_MODULE_ID_SOC);
 
+	if (!soc || !hdd_ctx) {
+		hdd_err("invalid SOC or HDD context!");
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* Determine device_mode specific configuration */
 	switch (device_mode) {
 	case QDF_NDI_MODE: