diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/kaweth.c b/drivers/net/usb/kaweth.c
index 5e98643a4a21..7dc84971f26f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/kaweth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/kaweth.c
@@ -406,6 +406,7 @@ static int kaweth_download_firmware(struct kaweth_device *kaweth,
 
 	if (fw->size > KAWETH_FIRMWARE_BUF_SIZE) {
 		err("Firmware too big: %zu", fw->size);
+		release_firmware(fw);
 		return -ENOSPC;
 	}
 	data_len = fw->size;