diff --git a/src/scan.c b/src/scan.c
index f83cc058..8736b9a8 100644
--- a/src/scan.c
+++ b/src/scan.c
@@ -487,7 +487,11 @@ bool scan_periodic_stop(uint32_t ifindex)
 
 	l_debug("Stopping periodic scan for ifindex: %u", ifindex);
 
-	l_timeout_remove(sc->sp.timeout);
+	if (sc->sp.timeout) {
+		l_timeout_remove(sc->sp.timeout);
+		sc->sp.timeout = NULL;
+	}
+
 	sc->sp.interval = 0;
 	sc->sp.callback = NULL;
 	sc->sp.userdata = NULL;