diff --git a/net/wireless/reg.c b/net/wireless/reg.c
index 54c13ea7d977..7b19a2087db9 100644
--- a/net/wireless/reg.c
+++ b/net/wireless/reg.c
@@ -1083,6 +1083,8 @@ MODULE_FIRMWARE("regulatory.db");
 
 static int query_regdb_file(const char *alpha2)
 {
+	int err;
+
 	ASSERT_RTNL();
 
 	if (regdb)
@@ -1092,9 +1094,13 @@ static int query_regdb_file(const char *alpha2)
 	if (!alpha2)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	return request_firmware_nowait(THIS_MODULE, true, "regulatory.db",
-				       &reg_pdev->dev, GFP_KERNEL,
-				       (void *)alpha2, regdb_fw_cb);
+	err = request_firmware_nowait(THIS_MODULE, true, "regulatory.db",
+				      &reg_pdev->dev, GFP_KERNEL,
+				      (void *)alpha2, regdb_fw_cb);
+	if (err)
+		kfree(alpha2);
+
+	return err;
 }
 
 int reg_reload_regdb(void)