diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/r8152.c b/drivers/net/usb/r8152.c
index fb9c1f3f6e5a..c34974f7dfd2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/r8152.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/r8152.c
@@ -9829,6 +9829,7 @@ static int rtl8152_probe(struct usb_interface *intf,
 	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);