struct rndis_set_c      *set_c;
                struct rndis_halt       *halt;
        } u;
-       u32                     tmp, *phym;
+       u32                     tmp, phym_unspec, *phym;
        int                     reply_len;
        unsigned char           *bp;
 
                goto halt_fail_and_release;
 
        /* Check physical medium */
+       phym = NULL;
        reply_len = sizeof *phym;
        retval = rndis_query(dev, intf, u.buf, OID_GEN_PHYSICAL_MEDIUM,
                        0, (void **) &phym, &reply_len);
-       if (retval != 0)
+       if (retval != 0 || !phym) {
                /* OID is optional so don't fail here. */
-               *phym = RNDIS_PHYSICAL_MEDIUM_UNSPECIFIED;
+               phym_unspec = RNDIS_PHYSICAL_MEDIUM_UNSPECIFIED;
+               phym = &phym_unspec;
+       }
        if ((flags & FLAG_RNDIS_PHYM_WIRELESS) &&
                        *phym != RNDIS_PHYSICAL_MEDIUM_WIRELESS_LAN) {
                if (netif_msg_probe(dev))