diff --git a/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-cards.c b/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-cards.c
index f5cac47d099abe6e1033d39f859da6242fd7592a..e17be073c0c3dcf2f76c02bf36bfb65d2f199598 100644
--- a/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-cards.c
+++ b/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-cards.c
@@ -2912,7 +2912,7 @@ static void request_module_async(struct work_struct *work)
 
 	if (dev->board.has_dvb)
 		request_module("em28xx-dvb");
-	if (dev->board.ir_codes && !disable_ir)
+	if ((dev->board.ir_codes || dev->board.has_ir_i2c) && !disable_ir)
 		request_module("em28xx-rc");
 #endif /* CONFIG_MODULES */
 }