diff --git a/os_if/linux/scan/src/wlan_cfg80211_scan.c b/os_if/linux/scan/src/wlan_cfg80211_scan.c
index c40b15155c8a..32b7d59ed31c 100644
--- a/os_if/linux/scan/src/wlan_cfg80211_scan.c
+++ b/os_if/linux/scan/src/wlan_cfg80211_scan.c
@@ -507,6 +507,12 @@ int wlan_cfg80211_sched_scan_start(struct wlan_objmgr_pdev *pdev,
 			request->match_sets[i].rssi_thold;
 	}
 
+	/* set scan to passive if no SSIDs are specified in the request */
+	if (0 == request->n_ssids)
+		req->do_passive_scan = true;
+	else
+		req->do_passive_scan = false;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < request->n_ssids; i++) {
 		j = 0;
 		while (j < req->networks_cnt) {
diff --git a/umac/scan/dispatcher/inc/wlan_scan_public_structs.h b/umac/scan/dispatcher/inc/wlan_scan_public_structs.h
index ae3ccf824d72..7cb76c9020d3 100644
--- a/umac/scan/dispatcher/inc/wlan_scan_public_structs.h
+++ b/umac/scan/dispatcher/inc/wlan_scan_public_structs.h
@@ -965,6 +965,7 @@ struct nlo_mawc_params {
 /**
  * struct pno_scan_req_params - PNO Scan request structure
  * @networks_cnt: Number of networks
+ * @do_passive_scan: Flag to request passive scan to fw
  * @vdev_id: vdev id
  * @fast_scan_period: Fast Scan period
  * @slow_scan_period: Slow scan period
@@ -996,6 +997,7 @@ struct nlo_mawc_params {
  */
 struct pno_scan_req_params {
 	uint32_t networks_cnt;
+	bool     do_passive_scan;
 	uint32_t vdev_id;
 	uint32_t fast_scan_period;
 	uint32_t slow_scan_period;
diff --git a/wmi/src/wmi_unified_tlv.c b/wmi/src/wmi_unified_tlv.c
index 025ff7a2e221..72386c734125 100644
--- a/wmi/src/wmi_unified_tlv.c
+++ b/wmi/src/wmi_unified_tlv.c
@@ -7544,6 +7544,8 @@ static QDF_STATUS send_pno_start_cmd_tlv(wmi_unified_t wmi_handle,
 	cmd->active_dwell_time = pno->active_dwell_time;
 	cmd->passive_dwell_time = pno->passive_dwell_time;
 
+	if (pno->do_passive_scan)
+		cmd->flags |= WMI_NLO_CONFIG_SCAN_PASSIVE;
 	/* Copy scan interval */
 	cmd->fast_scan_period = pno->fast_scan_period;
 	cmd->slow_scan_period = pno->slow_scan_period;