diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
index dd07ae56078543f616a3c5f002a4579b5783d6e1..0c49708cf37e0d43b30a15a5e3783c3fe76fd36a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath6kl/cfg80211.c
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@
 	.max_power      = 30,                       \
 }
 
+#define DEFAULT_BG_SCAN_PERIOD 60
+
 static struct ieee80211_rate ath6kl_rates[] = {
 	RATETAB_ENT(10, 0x1, 0),
 	RATETAB_ENT(20, 0x2, 0),
@@ -607,6 +609,17 @@ static int ath6kl_cfg80211_connect(struct wiphy *wiphy, struct net_device *dev,
 					vif->req_bssid, vif->ch_hint,
 					ar->connect_ctrl_flags, nw_subtype);
 
+	/* disable background scan if period is 0 */
+	if (sme->bg_scan_period == 0)
+		sme->bg_scan_period = 0xffff;
+
+	/* configure default value if not specified */
+	if (sme->bg_scan_period == -1)
+		sme->bg_scan_period = DEFAULT_BG_SCAN_PERIOD;
+
+	ath6kl_wmi_scanparams_cmd(ar->wmi, vif->fw_vif_idx, 0, 0,
+				  sme->bg_scan_period, 0, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0, 0);
+
 	up(&ar->sem);
 
 	if (status == -EINVAL) {