diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/wlanconfig b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/wlanconfig
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/wlanconfig
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/wlanconfig
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@
 
 while :; do
 	SCANSSID=0
+	f_eval_catch -d wlanconfig ifconfig "ifconfig $WLAN_IFACE up"
 	f_eval_catch -d wlanconfig wpa_cli "wpa_cli scan"
 	f_dialog_title "Scanning"
 	f_dialog_pause "Waiting 5 seconds to scan for wireless networks..." 5 ||