This paper proposes an adaptive finite time command filtered backstepping control scheme for single‐input and single‐output (SISO) uncertain strict-feedback nonlinear systems. The problem of the explosion of complexity existing in the adaptive backstepping control design and the singularity problem are solved by using the proposed adaptive finite time control method. In addition, the compensating signals are introduced to deal with the effect of the known filtering errors caused by the command filters. By using the finite time Lyapunov stability theory, the proposed adaptive finite time control strategy guarantees that all the signals in the closed-loop system are practical finite time stable, and the tracking errors converge to an arbitrarily small neighbourhood of the origin in finite time. Simulation and experimental results of the DC-DC buck converter are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive finite time control scheme.