diff --git a/source/core/wifi_ctrl_webconfig.c b/source/core/wifi_ctrl_webconfig.c
index 573b1c406..a28c1ea36 100644
--- a/source/core/wifi_ctrl_webconfig.c
+++ b/source/core/wifi_ctrl_webconfig.c
@@ -1086,6 +1086,11 @@ int webconfig_steering_clients_apply(wifi_ctrl_t *ctrl, webconfig_subdoc_decoded
 
     wifi_util_dbg_print(WIFI_MGR,"%s %d \n", __func__, __LINE__);
 
+    if (data == NULL) {
+        wifi_util_error_print(WIFI_MGR,"%s:%d data is NULL\n", __func__, __LINE__);
+        return RETURN_ERR;
+    }
+
     mgr_cfg_map = mgr->steering_client_map;
     dec_cfg_map = data->steering_client_map;
 
@@ -1144,7 +1149,7 @@ int webconfig_steering_clients_apply(wifi_ctrl_t *ctrl, webconfig_subdoc_decoded
     }
 
   free_data:
-    if ((data != NULL) && (dec_cfg_map != NULL)) {
+    if (dec_cfg_map != NULL) {
         wifi_util_dbg_print(WIFI_MGR,"%s %d Freeing Decoded Data \n", __func__, __LINE__);
         dec_steering_client = hash_map_get_first(dec_cfg_map);
         while (dec_steering_client != NULL) {