diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/pci.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/pci.c
index 737ab425da99..2a1bc168f771 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/pci.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/pci.c
@@ -2220,6 +2220,7 @@ fail5:
 fail4:
 	rtl_deinit_core(hw);
 fail3:
+	wait_for_completion(&rtlpriv->firmware_loading_complete);
 	rtlpriv->cfg->ops->deinit_sw_vars(hw);
 
 fail2: