diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu/sw.c b/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu/sw.c
index bee7c1480f63..092e342c19df 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu/sw.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/rtlwifi/rtl8192cu/sw.c
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ MODULE_FIRMWARE("rtlwifi/rtl8192cufw.bin");
 static int rtl92cu_init_sw_vars(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 {
 	struct rtl_priv *rtlpriv = rtl_priv(hw);
+	const struct firmware *firmware;
+	int err;
 
 	rtlpriv->dm.dm_initialgain_enable = 1;
 	rtlpriv->dm.dm_flag = 0;
@@ -64,6 +66,24 @@ static int rtl92cu_init_sw_vars(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 			 ("Can't alloc buffer for fw.\n"));
 		return 1;
 	}
+	/* request fw */
+	err = request_firmware(&firmware, rtlpriv->cfg->fw_name,
+			rtlpriv->io.dev);
+	if (err) {
+		RT_TRACE(rtlpriv, COMP_ERR, DBG_EMERG,
+			 ("Failed to request firmware!\n"));
+		return 1;
+	}
+	if (firmware->size > 0x4000) {
+		RT_TRACE(rtlpriv, COMP_ERR, DBG_EMERG,
+			 ("Firmware is too big!\n"));
+		release_firmware(firmware);
+		return 1;
+	}
+	memcpy(rtlpriv->rtlhal.pfirmware, firmware->data, firmware->size);
+	rtlpriv->rtlhal.fwsize = firmware->size;
+	release_firmware(firmware);
+
 	return 0;
 }