diff --git a/src/core/mac/mac.cpp b/src/core/mac/mac.cpp
index b97469db7..a30208456 100644
--- a/src/core/mac/mac.cpp
+++ b/src/core/mac/mac.cpp
@@ -196,10 +196,16 @@ otError Mac::ActiveScan(uint32_t aScanChannels, uint16_t aScanDuration, ActiveSc
 {
     otError error;
 
-    SuccessOrExit(error = Scan(kOperationActiveScan, aScanChannels, aScanDuration, aContext));
     mActiveScanHandler = aHandler;
+    SuccessOrExit(error = Scan(kOperationActiveScan, aScanChannels, aScanDuration, aContext));
 
 exit:
+
+    if (OT_ERROR_NONE != error)
+    {
+        mActiveScanHandler = NULL;
+    }
+
     return error;
 }
 
@@ -207,10 +213,16 @@ otError Mac::EnergyScan(uint32_t aScanChannels, uint16_t aScanDuration, EnergySc
 {
     otError error;
 
-    SuccessOrExit(error = Scan(kOperationEnergyScan, aScanChannels, aScanDuration, aContext));
     mEnergyScanHandler = aHandler;
+    SuccessOrExit(error = Scan(kOperationEnergyScan, aScanChannels, aScanDuration, aContext));
 
 exit:
+
+    if (OT_ERROR_NONE != error)
+    {
+        mEnergyScanHandler = NULL;
+    }
+
     return error;
 }