diff --git a/drivers/wifi/esp32/src/esp_wifi_drv.c b/drivers/wifi/esp32/src/esp_wifi_drv.c
index 06cc6781387..305994d6a32 100644
--- a/drivers/wifi/esp32/src/esp_wifi_drv.c
+++ b/drivers/wifi/esp32/src/esp_wifi_drv.c
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ static int esp32_wifi_send(const struct device *dev, struct net_pkt *pkt)
 	const int pkt_len = net_pkt_get_len(pkt);
 	esp_interface_t ifx = data->state == ESP32_AP_CONNECTED ? ESP_IF_WIFI_AP : ESP_IF_WIFI_STA;
 
-	if (esp32_data.state != ESP32_STA_CONNECTED && esp32_data.state != ESP32_AP_CONNECTED) {
+	if (data->state != ESP32_STA_CONNECTED && data->state != ESP32_AP_CONNECTED) {
 		return -EIO;
 	}