diff --git a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_scan_sw.c b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_scan_sw.c
--- a/sys/net80211/ieee80211_scan_sw.c
+++ b/sys/net80211/ieee80211_scan_sw.c
@@ -336,12 +336,14 @@
 {
 	struct ieee80211com *ic = vap->iv_ic;
 	struct ieee80211_scan_state *ss = ic->ic_scan;
+	bool scanning;
 
 	/* XXX assert unlocked? */
 	// IEEE80211_UNLOCK_ASSERT(ic);
 
 	IEEE80211_LOCK(ic);
-	if ((ic->ic_flags & IEEE80211_F_SCAN) == 0) {
+	scanning = ic->ic_flags & IEEE80211_F_SCAN;
+	if (!scanning) {
 		u_int duration;
 		/*
 		 * Go off-channel for a fixed interval that is large
@@ -405,6 +407,7 @@
 			ic->ic_flags_ext |= IEEE80211_FEXT_BGSCAN;
 			ieee80211_runtask(ic,
 			    &SCAN_PRIVATE(ss)->ss_scan_start);
+			scanning = true;
 		} else {
 			/* XXX msg+stat */
 		}
@@ -415,8 +418,7 @@
 	}
 	IEEE80211_UNLOCK(ic);
 
-	/* NB: racey, does it matter? */
-	return (ic->ic_flags & IEEE80211_F_SCAN);
+	return (scanning);
 }
 
 /*