diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/rt2x00/rt2800usb.c b/drivers/net/wireless/rt2x00/rt2800usb.c
index 41b6fb16c661..6ec2466b52b6 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/rt2x00/rt2800usb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/rt2x00/rt2800usb.c
@@ -293,6 +293,7 @@ static int rt2800usb_write_firmware(struct rt2x00_dev *rt2x00dev,
 	if (retval) {
 		rt2x00_info(rt2x00dev,
 			    "Firmware loading not required - NIC in AutoRun mode\n");
+		__clear_bit(REQUIRE_FIRMWARE, &rt2x00dev->cap_flags);
 	} else {
 		rt2x00usb_register_multiwrite(rt2x00dev, FIRMWARE_IMAGE_BASE,
 					      data + offset, length);