diff --git a/drivers/staging/r8188eu/core/rtw_mlme.c b/drivers/staging/r8188eu/core/rtw_mlme.c
index aa39f07847c2..3e9882f89f76 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/r8188eu/core/rtw_mlme.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/r8188eu/core/rtw_mlme.c
@@ -1070,8 +1070,10 @@ void rtw_joinbss_event_prehandle(struct adapter *adapter, u8 *pbuf)
 				rtw_indicate_connect(adapter);
 			}
 
+			spin_unlock_bh(&pmlmepriv->lock);
 			/* s5. Cancel assoc_timer */
 			del_timer_sync(&pmlmepriv->assoc_timer);
+			spin_lock_bh(&pmlmepriv->lock);
 		} else {
 			spin_unlock_bh(&pmlmepriv->scanned_queue.lock);
 			goto ignore_joinbss_callback;
@@ -1315,7 +1317,7 @@ void _rtw_join_timeout_handler (struct adapter *adapter)
 	if (adapter->bDriverStopped || adapter->bSurpriseRemoved)
 		return;
 
-	spin_lock_bh(&pmlmepriv->lock);
+	spin_lock_irq(&pmlmepriv->lock);
 
 	if (rtw_to_roaming(adapter) > 0) { /* join timeout caused by roaming */
 		while (1) {
@@ -1334,7 +1336,7 @@ void _rtw_join_timeout_handler (struct adapter *adapter)
 		rtw_indicate_disconnect(adapter);
 		free_scanqueue(pmlmepriv);/*  */
 	}
-	spin_unlock_bh(&pmlmepriv->lock);
+	spin_unlock_irq(&pmlmepriv->lock);
 
 }