diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/r8152.c b/drivers/net/usb/r8152.c
index baa3c57d1642..f6d5fbb9dee0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/r8152.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/r8152.c
@@ -9802,6 +9802,7 @@ out1:
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&tp->hw_phy_work);
 	if (tp->rtl_ops.unload)
 		tp->rtl_ops.unload(tp);
+	rtl8152_release_firmware(tp);
 	usb_set_intfdata(intf, NULL);
 out:
 	free_netdev(netdev);