diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/st/cw1200/scan.c b/drivers/net/wireless/st/cw1200/scan.c
index 67213f11acbd..0a9eac93dd01 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/st/cw1200/scan.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/st/cw1200/scan.c
@@ -78,6 +78,10 @@ int cw1200_hw_scan(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 	if (req->n_ssids > WSM_SCAN_MAX_NUM_OF_SSIDS)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	/* will be unlocked in cw1200_scan_work() */
+	down(&priv->scan.lock);
+	mutex_lock(&priv->conf_mutex);
+
 	frame.skb = ieee80211_probereq_get(hw, priv->vif->addr, NULL, 0,
 		req->ie_len);
 	if (!frame.skb)
@@ -86,19 +90,15 @@ int cw1200_hw_scan(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 	if (req->ie_len)
 		skb_put_data(frame.skb, req->ie, req->ie_len);
 
-	/* will be unlocked in cw1200_scan_work() */
-	down(&priv->scan.lock);
-	mutex_lock(&priv->conf_mutex);
-
 	ret = wsm_set_template_frame(priv, &frame);
 	if (!ret) {
 		/* Host want to be the probe responder. */
 		ret = wsm_set_probe_responder(priv, true);
 	}
 	if (ret) {
+		dev_kfree_skb(frame.skb);
 		mutex_unlock(&priv->conf_mutex);
 		up(&priv->scan.lock);
-		dev_kfree_skb(frame.skb);
 		return ret;
 	}
 
@@ -120,10 +120,9 @@ int cw1200_hw_scan(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 		++priv->scan.n_ssids;
 	}
 
-	mutex_unlock(&priv->conf_mutex);
-
 	if (frame.skb)
 		dev_kfree_skb(frame.skb);
+	mutex_unlock(&priv->conf_mutex);
 	queue_work(priv->workqueue, &priv->scan.work);
 	return 0;
 }