diff --git a/net/mac80211/cfg.c b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
index aa45627a42089d..3c6d62cfbaf11f 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/cfg.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/cfg.c
@@ -2156,14 +2156,12 @@ static int copy_mesh_setup(struct ieee80211_if_mesh *ifmsh,
 		const struct mesh_setup *setup)
 {
 	u8 *new_ie;
-	const u8 *old_ie;
 	struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata = container_of(ifmsh,
 					struct ieee80211_sub_if_data, u.mesh);
 	int i;
 
 	/* allocate information elements */
 	new_ie = NULL;
-	old_ie = ifmsh->ie;
 
 	if (setup->ie_len) {
 		new_ie = kmemdup(setup->ie, setup->ie_len,
@@ -2173,7 +2171,6 @@ static int copy_mesh_setup(struct ieee80211_if_mesh *ifmsh,
 	}
 	ifmsh->ie_len = setup->ie_len;
 	ifmsh->ie = new_ie;
-	kfree(old_ie);
 
 	/* now copy the rest of the setup parameters */
 	ifmsh->mesh_id_len = setup->mesh_id_len;