diff --git a/sys/dev/if_ndis/if_ndis.c b/sys/dev/if_ndis/if_ndis.c
index 30600f484def..4981a2e0d93a 100644
--- a/sys/dev/if_ndis/if_ndis.c
+++ b/sys/dev/if_ndis/if_ndis.c
@@ -1717,8 +1717,10 @@ ndis_ticktask(d, xsc)
 	if (sc->ndis_link == 1 &&
 	    sc->ndis_sts == NDIS_STATUS_MEDIA_DISCONNECT) {
 		sc->ndis_link = 0;
+		NDIS_UNLOCK(sc);
 		if (sc->ndis_80211)
 			ieee80211_new_state(vap, IEEE80211_S_SCAN, 0);
+		NDIS_LOCK(sc);
 		if_link_state_change(sc->ifp, LINK_STATE_DOWN);
 	}