diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt7601u/mcu.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt7601u/mcu.c
index 65a8004418ea..8e2e1e571878 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt7601u/mcu.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mediatek/mt7601u/mcu.c
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ static int mt7601u_load_firmware(struct mt7601u_dev *dev)
 					 MT_USB_DMA_CFG_TX_BULK_EN));
 
 	if (firmware_running(dev))
-		return 0;
+		return firmware_request_cache(dev->dev, MT7601U_FIRMWARE);
 
 	ret = request_firmware(&fw, MT7601U_FIRMWARE, dev->dev);
 	if (ret)