diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
index 38b7ea591d04..247f5de6da57 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/liquidio/lio_main.c
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ static int debug = -1;
 module_param(debug, int, 0644);
 MODULE_PARM_DESC(debug, "NETIF_MSG debug bits");
 
-static char fw_type[LIO_MAX_FW_TYPE_LEN];
-module_param_string(fw_type, fw_type, sizeof(fw_type), 0000);
-MODULE_PARM_DESC(fw_type, "Type of firmware to be loaded. Default \"nic\"");
+static char fw_type[LIO_MAX_FW_TYPE_LEN] = LIO_FW_NAME_TYPE_NIC;
+module_param_string(fw_type, fw_type, sizeof(fw_type), 0444);
+MODULE_PARM_DESC(fw_type, "Type of firmware to be loaded. Default \"nic\".  Use \"none\" to load firmware from flash.");
 
 static u32 console_bitmask;
 module_param(console_bitmask, int, 0644);