diff --git a/drivers/staging/r8188eu/os_dep/mlme_linux.c b/drivers/staging/r8188eu/os_dep/mlme_linux.c
index e3ee9dc7ab90..b0d1e20edc4c 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/r8188eu/os_dep/mlme_linux.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/r8188eu/os_dep/mlme_linux.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ void rtw_report_sec_ie(struct adapter *adapter, u8 authmode, u8 *sec_ie)
 
 	buff = NULL;
 	if (authmode == _WPA_IE_ID_) {
-		buff = kzalloc(IW_CUSTOM_MAX, GFP_KERNEL);
+		buff = kzalloc(IW_CUSTOM_MAX, GFP_ATOMIC);
 		if (!buff)
 			return;
 		p = buff;