diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/os_intfs.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/os_intfs.c
index 4cf175f53f9e..7bbd53a410e3 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/os_intfs.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/os_intfs.c
@@ -475,9 +475,6 @@ static int netdev_close(struct net_device *pnetdev)
 	r8712_free_assoc_resources(padapter);
 	/*s2-4.*/
 	r8712_free_network_queue(padapter);
-	release_firmware(padapter->fw);
-	/* never exit with a firmware callback pending */
-	wait_for_completion(&padapter->rtl8712_fw_ready);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
index fe0e2ffc5250..e01fe1419d1c 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 #include <linux/usb.h>
 #include <linux/module.h>
+#include <linux/firmware.h>
 
 #include "osdep_service.h"
 #include "drv_types.h"
@@ -620,6 +621,10 @@ static void r871xu_dev_remove(struct usb_interface *pusb_intf)
 	struct _adapter *padapter = netdev_priv(pnetdev);
 	struct usb_device *udev = interface_to_usbdev(pusb_intf);
 
+	if (padapter->fw_found)
+		release_firmware(padapter->fw);
+	/* never exit with a firmware callback pending */
+	wait_for_completion(&padapter->rtl8712_fw_ready);
 	usb_set_intfdata(pusb_intf, NULL);
 	if (padapter) {
 		if (drvpriv.drv_registered == true)