diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
index daf444bf8d48..f03cc4a6fbc1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
@@ -639,6 +639,7 @@ static int ath6kl_cfg80211_scan(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *ndev,
 	s8 n_channels = 0;
 	u16 *channels = NULL;
 	int ret = 0;
+	u32 force_fg_scan = 0;
 
 	if (!ath6kl_cfg80211_ready(ar))
 		return -EIO;
@@ -700,7 +701,10 @@ static int ath6kl_cfg80211_scan(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *ndev,
 			channels[i] = request->channels[i]->center_freq;
 	}
 
-	ret = ath6kl_wmi_startscan_cmd(ar->wmi, WMI_LONG_SCAN, 0,
+	if (test_bit(CONNECTED, &ar->flag))
+		force_fg_scan = 1;
+
+	ret = ath6kl_wmi_startscan_cmd(ar->wmi, WMI_LONG_SCAN, force_fg_scan,
 				       false, 0, 0, n_channels, channels);
 	if (ret)
 		ath6kl_err("wmi_startscan_cmd failed\n");