diff --git a/src/drivers/driver_nl80211.c b/src/drivers/driver_nl80211.c
index 13ecd11d3..97c6bf1ad 100644
--- a/src/drivers/driver_nl80211.c
+++ b/src/drivers/driver_nl80211.c
@@ -3975,15 +3975,26 @@ static int wpa_driver_nl80211_send_mlme(struct i802_bss *bss, const u8 *data,
 			encrypt = 0;
 	}
 
-	if (freq == 0 && drv->nlmode == NL80211_IFTYPE_STATION &&
-	    (drv->capa.flags & WPA_DRIVER_FLAGS_SAE) &&
-	    !(drv->capa.flags & WPA_DRIVER_FLAGS_SME) &&
+	if (is_sta_interface(drv->nlmode) &&
 	    WLAN_FC_GET_TYPE(fc) == WLAN_FC_TYPE_MGMT &&
 	    WLAN_FC_GET_STYPE(fc) == WLAN_FC_STYPE_AUTH) {
-		freq = nl80211_get_assoc_freq(drv);
-		wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,
-			   "nl80211: send_mlme - Use assoc_freq=%u for external auth",
-			   freq);
+		if (freq == 0 &&
+		    (drv->capa.flags & WPA_DRIVER_FLAGS_SAE) &&
+		    !(drv->capa.flags & WPA_DRIVER_FLAGS_SME)) {
+			freq = nl80211_get_assoc_freq(drv);
+			wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,
+				   "nl80211: send_mlme - Use assoc_freq=%u for external auth",
+				   freq);
+		}
+
+		/* Allow off channel for PASN authentication */
+		if (data_len >= IEEE80211_HDRLEN + 2 &&
+		    WPA_GET_LE16(data + IEEE80211_HDRLEN) == WLAN_AUTH_PASN &&
+		    !offchanok) {
+			wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,
+				   "nl80211: send_mlme: allow off channel for PASN");
+			offchanok = 1;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (freq == 0 && drv->nlmode == NL80211_IFTYPE_ADHOC) {