diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw88/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw88/main.c
index 5786995d90d4..d7b7b2cce974 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw88/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtw88/main.c
@@ -1869,7 +1869,7 @@ int rtw_core_init(struct rtw_dev *rtwdev)
 	ret = rtw_load_firmware(rtwdev, RTW_NORMAL_FW);
 	if (ret) {
 		rtw_warn(rtwdev, "no firmware loaded\n");
-		return ret;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	if (chip->wow_fw_name) {
@@ -1879,11 +1879,15 @@ int rtw_core_init(struct rtw_dev *rtwdev)
 			wait_for_completion(&rtwdev->fw.completion);
 			if (rtwdev->fw.firmware)
 				release_firmware(rtwdev->fw.firmware);
-			return ret;
+			goto out;
 		}
 	}
 
 	return 0;
+
+out:
+	destroy_workqueue(rtwdev->tx_wq);
+	return ret;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(rtw_core_init);