diff --git a/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/wifi/Radio.c b/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/wifi/Radio.c
index 61c95dea82..bcbca0ec7c 100644
--- a/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/wifi/Radio.c
+++ b/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/wifi/Radio.c
@@ -142,10 +142,10 @@ wifi_radio_error_t common_hal_wifi_radio_connect(wifi_radio_obj_t *self, uint8_t
     } else {
         config->sta.bssid_set = 0;
     }
-    // if channel and bssid both not set, do a full scan instead of fast scan
-    // this will ensure that the best AP is chosen automatically
-    if ((self->sta.bssid_set == 0) && (self->sta.channel == NULL)) {
-        config.scan_method = WIFI_ALL_CHANNEL_SCAN;
+    // If channel is 0 (default/unset) and BSSID is not given, do a full scan instead of fast scan
+    // This will ensure that the best AP in range is chosen automatically
+    if ((config->sta.bssid_set == 0) && (config->sta.channel == 0)) {
+        config->sta.scan_method = WIFI_ALL_CHANNEL_SCAN;
     }
     esp_wifi_set_config(ESP_IF_WIFI_STA, config);
     self->starting_retries = 5;