diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/libertas/cmd.c b/drivers/net/wireless/libertas/cmd.c
index dd0743c42b47ec005ee9f1f9eea34c589852f5c2..26e68326710b04bce2a9e4e08f42ddf1ba645ce2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/libertas/cmd.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/libertas/cmd.c
@@ -1020,9 +1020,9 @@ static void lbs_submit_command(struct lbs_private *priv,
 	if (ret) {
 		netdev_info(priv->dev, "DNLD_CMD: hw_host_to_card failed: %d\n",
 			    ret);
-		/* Let the timer kick in and retry, and potentially reset
-		   the whole thing if the condition persists */
-		timeo = HZ/4;
+		/* Reset dnld state machine, report failure */
+		priv->dnld_sent = DNLD_RES_RECEIVED;
+		lbs_complete_command(priv, cmdnode, ret);
 	}
 
 	if (command == CMD_802_11_DEEP_SLEEP) {