diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwl8k.c b/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwl8k.c
index 27b7d4b779e0..dc91ac8cbd48 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwl8k.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwl8k.c
@@ -5796,8 +5796,8 @@ static void mwl8k_fw_state_machine(const struct firmware *fw, void *context)
 fail:
 	priv->fw_state = FW_STATE_ERROR;
 	complete(&priv->firmware_loading_complete);
-	device_release_driver(&priv->pdev->dev);
 	mwl8k_release_firmware(priv);
+	device_release_driver(&priv->pdev->dev);
 }
 
 #define MAX_RESTART_ATTEMPTS 1