diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c b/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c
index 925034b80e9c..93598cd7ee6a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/brcm80211/brcmsmac/mac80211_if.c
@@ -426,6 +426,12 @@ static int brcms_ops_start(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 	bool blocked;
 	int err;
 
+	if (!wl->ucode.bcm43xx_bomminor) {
+		err = brcms_request_fw(wl, wl->wlc->hw->d11core);
+		if (err)
+			return -ENOENT;
+	}
+
 	ieee80211_wake_queues(hw);
 	spin_lock_bh(&wl->lock);
 	blocked = brcms_rfkill_set_hw_state(wl);
@@ -433,14 +439,6 @@ static int brcms_ops_start(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 	if (!blocked)
 		wiphy_rfkill_stop_polling(wl->pub->ieee_hw->wiphy);
 
-	if (!wl->ucode.bcm43xx_bomminor) {
-		err = brcms_request_fw(wl, wl->wlc->hw->d11core);
-		if (err) {
-			brcms_remove(wl->wlc->hw->d11core);
-			return -ENOENT;
-		}
-	}
-
 	spin_lock_bh(&wl->lock);
 	/* avoid acknowledging frames before a non-monitor device is added */
 	wl->mute_tx = true;