diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl4965-base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl4965-base.c
index d484c3678163..a62fe24ee594 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl4965-base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/iwlegacy/iwl4965-base.c
@@ -2984,15 +2984,15 @@ static void iwl4965_bg_txpower_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct iwl_priv *priv = container_of(work, struct iwl_priv,
 			txpower_work);
 
+	mutex_lock(&priv->mutex);
+
 	/* If a scan happened to start before we got here
 	 * then just return; the statistics notification will
 	 * kick off another scheduled work to compensate for
 	 * any temperature delta we missed here. */
 	if (test_bit(STATUS_EXIT_PENDING, &priv->status) ||
 	    test_bit(STATUS_SCANNING, &priv->status))
-		return;
-
-	mutex_lock(&priv->mutex);
+		goto out;
 
 	/* Regardless of if we are associated, we must reconfigure the
 	 * TX power since frames can be sent on non-radar channels while
@@ -3002,7 +3002,7 @@ static void iwl4965_bg_txpower_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	/* Update last_temperature to keep is_calib_needed from running
 	 * when it isn't needed... */
 	priv->last_temperature = priv->temperature;
-
+out:
 	mutex_unlock(&priv->mutex);
 }