diff --git a/net/mac80211/cfg.c b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
index c2bd1b6a6922..da471eef07bb 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/cfg.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
@@ -3454,8 +3454,12 @@ static int ieee80211_mgmt_tx(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct wireless_dev *wdev,
 			goto out_unlock;
 		}
 	} else {
-		/* for cookie below */
-		ack_skb = skb;
+		/* Assign a dummy non-zero cookie, it's not sent to
+		 * userspace in this case but we rely on its value
+		 * internally in the need_offchan case to distinguish
+		 * mgmt-tx from remain-on-channel.
+		 */
+		*cookie = 0xffffffff;
 	}
 
 	if (!need_offchan) {