struct mwifiex_private *priv = (struct mwifiex_private *)data;
        struct mwifiex_adapter *adapter = priv->adapter;
        struct cmd_ctrl_node *cmd_node, *tmp_node;
+       spinlock_t *scan_q_lock = &adapter->scan_pending_q_lock;
        unsigned long flags;
 
        if (adapter->surprise_removed)
                 * Abort scan operation by cancelling all pending scan
                 * commands
                 */
-               spin_lock_irqsave(&adapter->scan_pending_q_lock, flags);
+               spin_lock_irqsave(scan_q_lock, flags);
                list_for_each_entry_safe(cmd_node, tmp_node,
                                         &adapter->scan_pending_q, list) {
                        list_del(&cmd_node->list);
                        mwifiex_insert_cmd_to_free_q(adapter, cmd_node);
                }
-               spin_unlock_irqrestore(&adapter->scan_pending_q_lock, flags);
+               spin_unlock_irqrestore(scan_q_lock, flags);
 
                spin_lock_irqsave(&adapter->mwifiex_cmd_lock, flags);
                adapter->scan_processing = false;
                         */
                        adapter->scan_delay_cnt = 0;
                        adapter->empty_tx_q_cnt = 0;
-                       spin_lock_irqsave(&adapter->scan_pending_q_lock, flags);
+                       spin_lock_irqsave(scan_q_lock, flags);
+
+                       if (list_empty(&adapter->scan_pending_q)) {
+                               spin_unlock_irqrestore(scan_q_lock, flags);
+                               goto done;
+                       }
+
                        cmd_node = list_first_entry(&adapter->scan_pending_q,
                                                    struct cmd_ctrl_node, list);
                        list_del(&cmd_node->list);
-                       spin_unlock_irqrestore(&adapter->scan_pending_q_lock,
-                                              flags);
+                       spin_unlock_irqrestore(scan_q_lock, flags);
 
                        mwifiex_insert_cmd_to_pending_q(adapter, cmd_node,
                                                        true);