diff --git a/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c b/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c
index 38a0383dfbcf..aa5150929996 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c
@@ -1103,7 +1103,14 @@ void mesh_path_start_discovery(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata)
 	mesh_path_sel_frame_tx(MPATH_PREQ, 0, sdata->vif.addr, ifmsh->sn,
 			       target_flags, mpath->dst, mpath->sn, da, 0,
 			       ttl, lifetime, 0, ifmsh->preq_id++, sdata);
+
+	spin_lock_bh(&mpath->state_lock);
+	if (mpath->flags & MESH_PATH_DELETED) {
+		spin_unlock_bh(&mpath->state_lock);
+		goto enddiscovery;
+	}
 	mod_timer(&mpath->timer, jiffies + mpath->discovery_timeout);
+	spin_unlock_bh(&mpath->state_lock);
 
 enddiscovery:
 	rcu_read_unlock();