diff --git a/src/drivers/driver_nl80211.c b/src/drivers/driver_nl80211.c
index 64bea49e1..7305ed60b 100644
--- a/src/drivers/driver_nl80211.c
+++ b/src/drivers/driver_nl80211.c
@@ -3747,6 +3747,17 @@ 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) &&
+	    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->nlmode == NL80211_IFTYPE_ADHOC) {
 		freq = nl80211_get_assoc_freq(drv);
 		wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,