diff --git a/sys/dev/ath/if_ath.c b/sys/dev/ath/if_ath.c
index ab51e06cb654..b580d39126e8 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ath/if_ath.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ath/if_ath.c
@@ -2063,7 +2063,7 @@ ath_beacon_proc(void *arg, int pending)
 	 * Enable the CAB queue before the beacon queue to
 	 * insure cab frames are triggered by this beacon.
 	 */
-	if (sc->sc_boff.bo_tim[4] & 1)		/* NB: only at DTIM */
+	if (ncabq != 0 && (sc->sc_boff.bo_tim[4] & 1))	/* NB: only at DTIM */
 		ath_hal_txstart(ah, sc->sc_cabq->axq_qnum);
 	ath_hal_puttxbuf(ah, sc->sc_bhalq, bf->bf_daddr);
 	ath_hal_txstart(ah, sc->sc_bhalq);