diff --git a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
index f9e4328f222d..2c345f260acf 100644
--- a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
+++ b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_main.c
@@ -5855,6 +5855,12 @@ void hdd_deinit_adapter(struct hdd_context *hdd_ctx,
 		break;
 	}
 
+	if (adapter->scan_info.default_scan_ies) {
+		qdf_mem_free(adapter->scan_info.default_scan_ies);
+		adapter->scan_info.default_scan_ies = NULL;
+		adapter->scan_info.default_scan_ies_len = 0;
+	}
+
 	hdd_exit();
 }
 
@@ -7246,12 +7252,6 @@ QDF_STATUS hdd_stop_adapter(struct hdd_context *hdd_ctx,
 		break;
 	}
 
-	if (adapter->scan_info.default_scan_ies) {
-		qdf_mem_free(adapter->scan_info.default_scan_ies);
-		adapter->scan_info.default_scan_ies = NULL;
-		adapter->scan_info.default_scan_ies_len = 0;
-	}
-
 	/* This function should be invoked at the end of this api*/
 	hdd_dump_func_call_map();
 	hdd_exit();