diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/rtl871x_ioctl_set.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/rtl871x_ioctl_set.c
index 8b1451d03069..8486eb1503cc 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/rtl871x_ioctl_set.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/rtl871x_ioctl_set.c
@@ -68,7 +68,10 @@ static u8 do_join(struct _adapter *padapter)
 	pmlmepriv->fw_state |= _FW_UNDER_LINKING;
 	pmlmepriv->pscanned = plist;
 	pmlmepriv->to_join = true;
-	if (_queue_empty(queue) == true) {
+
+	/* adhoc mode will start with an empty queue, but skip checking */
+	if (!check_fwstate(pmlmepriv, WIFI_ADHOC_STATE) &&
+	    _queue_empty(queue)) {
 		if (pmlmepriv->fw_state & _FW_UNDER_LINKING)
 			pmlmepriv->fw_state ^= _FW_UNDER_LINKING;
 		/* when set_ssid/set_bssid for do_join(), but scanning queue