diff --git a/examples/netlink/nl80211_scan.lua b/examples/netlink/nl80211_scan.lua
index 6d6679e..e878e9a 100755
--- a/examples/netlink/nl80211_scan.lua
+++ b/examples/netlink/nl80211_scan.lua
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ local nl = require 'eco.nl'
 
 local ifname = 'wlan0'
 
+-- If no ssids is passed, a passive scan is performed
 local ok, err = nl80211.scan('trigger', { ifname = ifname, ssids = { '', 'test1', 'test2' }, freqs = { 2412, 2417 } })
 if not ok then
     print(err)
diff --git a/nl80211.lua b/nl80211.lua
index d756dfe..ba7b6c1 100644
--- a/nl80211.lua
+++ b/nl80211.lua
@@ -636,16 +636,13 @@ local function nl80211_scan(sock, msg, action, cmd, params)
 
     if action == 'trigger' then
         local ssids = params.ssids
-
-        if type(ssids) ~= 'table' or #ssids == 0 then
-            ssids = { '' }
-        end
-
-        msg:put_attr_nest_start(nl80211.ATTR_SCAN_SSIDS)
-        for i, ssid in ipairs(ssids) do
-            msg:put_attr_str(i, ssid)
+        if type(ssids) == 'table' and #ssids > 0 then
+            msg:put_attr_nest_start(nl80211.ATTR_SCAN_SSIDS)
+            for i, ssid in ipairs(ssids) do
+                msg:put_attr_str(i, ssid)
+            end
+            msg:put_attr_nest_end()
         end
-        msg:put_attr_nest_end()
 
         local freqs = params.freqs
         if type(freqs) == 'table' and #freqs > 0 then