diff --git a/drivers/nfc/s3fwrn5/firmware.c b/drivers/nfc/s3fwrn5/firmware.c
index be110d9cef02..310773a4ca66 100644
--- a/drivers/nfc/s3fwrn5/firmware.c
+++ b/drivers/nfc/s3fwrn5/firmware.c
@@ -293,8 +293,10 @@ static int s3fwrn5_fw_request_firmware(struct s3fwrn5_fw_info *fw_info)
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	if (fw->fw->size < S3FWRN5_FW_IMAGE_HEADER_SIZE)
+	if (fw->fw->size < S3FWRN5_FW_IMAGE_HEADER_SIZE) {
+		release_firmware(fw->fw);
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	memcpy(fw->date, fw->fw->data + 0x00, 12);
 	fw->date[12] = '\0';