diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwifiex/main.c b/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwifiex/main.c
index 8b67a552a690..2b65334235ca 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwifiex/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/marvell/mwifiex/main.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "wmm.h"
 #include "cfg80211.h"
 #include "11n.h"
+#include "sdio.h"
 
 #define VERSION	"1.0"
 
@@ -514,6 +515,7 @@ static void mwifiex_fw_dpc(const struct firmware *firmware, void *context)
 	struct semaphore *sem = adapter->card_sem;
 	bool init_failed = false;
 	struct wireless_dev *wdev;
+	struct sdio_mmc_card *card = adapter->card;
 
 	if (!firmware) {
 		mwifiex_dbg(adapter, ERROR,
@@ -526,10 +528,16 @@ static void mwifiex_fw_dpc(const struct firmware *firmware, void *context)
 	fw.fw_buf = (u8 *) adapter->firmware->data;
 	fw.fw_len = adapter->firmware->size;
 
-	if (adapter->if_ops.dnld_fw)
+	if (adapter->if_ops.dnld_fw) {
 		ret = adapter->if_ops.dnld_fw(adapter, &fw);
-	else
+	} else {
+		if (adapter->iface_type == MWIFIEX_SDIO)
+			sdio_claim_host(card->func);
 		ret = mwifiex_dnld_fw(adapter, &fw);
+		if (adapter->iface_type == MWIFIEX_SDIO)
+			sdio_release_host(card->func);
+	}
+
 	if (ret == -1)
 		goto err_dnld_fw;