diff --git a/sound/usb/6fire/firmware.c b/sound/usb/6fire/firmware.c
index a91719d5918b69c6e76e577364c59f892f5768bd..1e3ae3327dd3a65431b4a517ab5b340dac2ee6f7 100644
--- a/sound/usb/6fire/firmware.c
+++ b/sound/usb/6fire/firmware.c
@@ -270,7 +270,6 @@ static int usb6fire_fw_ezusb_upload(
 	data = 0x00; /* resume ezusb cpu */
 	ret = usb6fire_fw_ezusb_write(device, 0xa0, 0xe600, &data, 1);
 	if (ret < 0) {
-		release_firmware(fw);
 		snd_printk(KERN_ERR PREFIX "unable to upload ezusb "
 				"firmware %s: end message.\n", fwname);
 		return ret;