diff --git a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
index 747814f319af..c6de3156930c 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
+++ b/net/mac80211/ieee80211_i.h
@@ -361,7 +361,9 @@ struct ieee80211_if_sta {
 
 	struct sk_buff_head skb_queue;
 
-	int auth_tries, assoc_tries;
+	int assoc_scan_tries; /* number of scans done pre-association */
+	int auth_tries; /* retries for auth req */
+	int assoc_tries; /* retries for assoc req */
 
 	unsigned long request;
 
diff --git a/net/mac80211/mlme.c b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
index f05519d1c2c6..e821d1ac5b00 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mlme.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mlme.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "led.h"
 #include "mesh.h"
 
+#define IEEE80211_ASSOC_SCANS_MAX_TRIES 2
 #define IEEE80211_AUTH_TIMEOUT (HZ / 5)
 #define IEEE80211_AUTH_MAX_TRIES 3
 #define IEEE80211_ASSOC_TIMEOUT (HZ / 5)
@@ -596,6 +597,7 @@ static void ieee80211_set_disassoc(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 {
 	if (deauth)
 		ifsta->auth_tries = 0;
+	ifsta->assoc_scan_tries = 0;
 	ifsta->assoc_tries = 0;
 	ieee80211_set_associated(sdata, ifsta, 0);
 }
@@ -3405,7 +3407,9 @@ static void ieee80211_sta_reset_auth(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 		ifsta->auth_alg = WLAN_AUTH_OPEN;
 	ifsta->auth_transaction = -1;
 	ifsta->flags &= ~IEEE80211_STA_ASSOCIATED;
-	ifsta->auth_tries = ifsta->assoc_tries = 0;
+	ifsta->assoc_scan_tries = 0;
+	ifsta->auth_tries = 0;
+	ifsta->assoc_tries = 0;
 	netif_carrier_off(sdata->dev);
 }
 
@@ -3510,7 +3514,8 @@ static int ieee80211_sta_config_auth(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 		ieee80211_sta_reset_auth(sdata, ifsta);
 		return 0;
 	} else {
-		if (ifsta->state != IEEE80211_STA_MLME_AUTHENTICATE) {
+		if (ifsta->assoc_scan_tries < IEEE80211_ASSOC_SCANS_MAX_TRIES) {
+			ifsta->assoc_scan_tries++;
 			if (ifsta->flags & IEEE80211_STA_AUTO_SSID_SEL)
 				ieee80211_sta_start_scan(sdata, NULL, 0);
 			else