diff --git a/sys/dev/iwn/if_iwn.c b/sys/dev/iwn/if_iwn.c
index c1ed6ab00481..fe36294bbeba 100644
--- a/sys/dev/iwn/if_iwn.c
+++ b/sys/dev/iwn/if_iwn.c
@@ -4950,9 +4950,7 @@ iwn_transmit(struct ieee80211com *ic, struct mbuf *m)
 	}
 
 	error = iwn_tx_data(sc, m, ni);
-	if (error) {
-		if_inc_counter(ni->ni_vap->iv_ifp, IFCOUNTER_OERRORS, 1);
-	} else
+	if (!error)
 		sc->sc_tx_timer = 5;
 	IWN_UNLOCK(sc);
 	return (error);
diff --git a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_freebsd.c b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_freebsd.c
index 5b2c103aaa21..7f2eae5dcfc1 100644
--- a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_freebsd.c
+++ b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_freebsd.c
@@ -529,9 +529,6 @@ ieee80211_get_rx_params(struct mbuf *m, struct ieee80211_rx_stats *rxs)
 
 /*
  * Transmit a frame to the parent interface.
- *
- * TODO: if the transmission fails, make sure the parent node is freed
- *   (the callers will first need modifying.)
  */
 int
 ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(struct ieee80211com *ic, struct mbuf *m)
@@ -544,8 +541,16 @@ ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(struct ieee80211com *ic, struct mbuf *m)
 	 */
 	IEEE80211_TX_LOCK_ASSERT(ic);
 	error = ic->ic_transmit(ic, m);
-	if (error)
+	if (error) {
+		struct ieee80211_node *ni;
+
+		ni = (struct ieee80211_node *)m->m_pkthdr.rcvif;
+
+		/* XXX number of fragments */
+		if_inc_counter(ni->ni_vap->iv_ifp, IFCOUNTER_OERRORS, 1);
+		ieee80211_free_node(ni);
 		ieee80211_free_mbuf(m);
+	}
 	return (error);
 }
 
diff --git a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_hostap.c b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_hostap.c
index ccb31abc6666..34d1b4ef5bb6 100644
--- a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_hostap.c
+++ b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_hostap.c
@@ -2327,12 +2327,11 @@ ieee80211_recv_pspoll(struct ieee80211_node *ni, struct mbuf *m0)
 
 	/*
 	 * Do the right thing; if it's an encap'ed frame then
-	 * call ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt() (and free the ref) else
+	 * call ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt() else
 	 * call ieee80211_vap_xmitpkt().
 	 */
 	if (m->m_flags & M_ENCAP) {
-		if (ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(ic, m) != 0)
-			ieee80211_free_node(ni);
+		(void) ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(ic, m);
 	} else {
 		(void) ieee80211_vap_xmitpkt(vap, m);
 	}
diff --git a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_mesh.c b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_mesh.c
index cb6ab81ff138..1778c091adc7 100644
--- a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_mesh.c
+++ b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_mesh.c
@@ -1239,12 +1239,8 @@ mesh_forward(struct ieee80211vap *vap, struct mbuf *m,
 	IEEE80211_TX_LOCK(ic);
 	err = ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(ic, mcopy);
 	IEEE80211_TX_UNLOCK(ic);
-	if (err != 0) {
-		/* NB: IFQ_HANDOFF reclaims mbuf */
-		ieee80211_free_node(ni);
-	} else {
+	if (!err)
 		if_inc_counter(ifp, IFCOUNTER_OPACKETS, 1);
-	}
 }
 
 static struct mbuf *
diff --git a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_output.c b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_output.c
index 149b726ce1fb..81d9eb192e36 100644
--- a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_output.c
+++ b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_output.c
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ ieee80211_vap_pkt_send_dest(struct ieee80211vap *vap, struct mbuf *m,
 {
 	struct ieee80211com *ic = vap->iv_ic;
 	struct ifnet *ifp = vap->iv_ifp;
-	int error, len, mcast;
+	int len, mcast;
 
 	if ((ni->ni_flags & IEEE80211_NODE_PWR_MGT) &&
 	    (m->m_flags & M_PWR_SAV) == 0) {
@@ -264,18 +264,13 @@ ieee80211_vap_pkt_send_dest(struct ieee80211vap *vap, struct mbuf *m,
 			return (ENOBUFS);
 		}
 	}
-	error = ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(ic, m);
+	(void) ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(ic, m);
 
 	/*
 	 * Unlock at this point - no need to hold it across
 	 * ieee80211_free_node() (ie, the comlock)
 	 */
 	IEEE80211_TX_UNLOCK(ic);
-	if (error != 0) {
-		/* NB: IFQ_HANDOFF reclaims mbuf */
-		ieee80211_free_node(ni);
-		if_inc_counter(ifp, IFCOUNTER_OERRORS, 1);
-	}
 	ic->ic_lastdata = ticks;
 
 	return (0);
diff --git a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_power.c b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_power.c
index 2d216c2ac7c8..73c1382b1218 100644
--- a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_power.c
+++ b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_power.c
@@ -457,12 +457,7 @@ pwrsave_flushq(struct ieee80211_node *ni)
 		KASSERT((m->m_flags & M_ENCAP),
 		    ("%s: parentq with non-M_ENCAP frame!\n",
 		    __func__));
-		/*
-		 * For encaped frames, we need to free the node
-		 * reference upon failure.
-		 */
-		if (ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(ic, m) != 0)
-			ieee80211_free_node(ni);
+		(void) ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(ic, m);
 	}
 
 	/* VAP frames, aren't encapsulated */
diff --git a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_superg.c b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_superg.c
index e91da017c8a5..8be098a0fcac 100644
--- a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_superg.c
+++ b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_superg.c
@@ -475,13 +475,9 @@ ff_transmit(struct ieee80211_node *ni, struct mbuf *m)
 	if (m != NULL) {
 		struct ifnet *ifp = vap->iv_ifp;
 
-		error = ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(ic, m);;
-		if (error != 0) {
-			/* NB: IFQ_HANDOFF reclaims mbuf */
-			ieee80211_free_node(ni);
-		} else {
+		error = ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(ic, m);
+		if (!error)
 			if_inc_counter(ifp, IFCOUNTER_OPACKETS, 1);
-		}
 	} else
 		ieee80211_free_node(ni);
 }
diff --git a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_wds.c b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_wds.c
index 1d3f30a7a48e..a444b790bb7b 100644
--- a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_wds.c
+++ b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_wds.c
@@ -298,11 +298,7 @@ ieee80211_dwds_mcast(struct ieee80211vap *vap0, struct mbuf *m)
 		mcopy->m_pkthdr.rcvif = (void *) ni;
 
 		err = ieee80211_parent_xmitpkt(ic, mcopy);
-		if (err) {
-			/* NB: IFQ_HANDOFF reclaims mbuf */
-			if_inc_counter(ifp, IFCOUNTER_OERRORS, 1);
-			ieee80211_free_node(ni);
-		} else {
+		if (!err) {
 			if_inc_counter(ifp, IFCOUNTER_OPACKETS, 1);
 			if_inc_counter(ifp, IFCOUNTER_OMCASTS, 1);
 			if_inc_counter(ifp, IFCOUNTER_OBYTES,