diff --git a/src/ap/ieee802_11.c b/src/ap/ieee802_11.c
index c0e5cff5a..5e484641a 100644
--- a/src/ap/ieee802_11.c
+++ b/src/ap/ieee802_11.c
@@ -5014,7 +5014,8 @@ static u16 send_assoc_resp(struct hostapd_data *hapd, struct sta_info *sta,
 #endif /* CONFIG_IEEE80211AX */
 
 	p = hostapd_eid_ext_capab(hapd, p, false);
-	p = hostapd_eid_bss_max_idle_period(hapd, p, sta->max_idle_period);
+	p = hostapd_eid_bss_max_idle_period(hapd, p,
+					    sta ? sta->max_idle_period : 0);
 	if (sta && sta->qos_map_enabled)
 		p = hostapd_eid_qos_map_set(hapd, p);