diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/hal_init.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/hal_init.c
index 40145c0338e4..42c0a3c947f1 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/hal_init.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/hal_init.c
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ static void rtl871x_load_fw_cb(const struct firmware *firmware, void *context)
 {
 	struct _adapter *adapter = context;
 
-	complete(&adapter->rtl8712_fw_ready);
 	if (!firmware) {
 		struct usb_device *udev = adapter->dvobjpriv.pusbdev;
 		struct usb_interface *usb_intf = adapter->pusb_intf;
@@ -41,11 +40,13 @@ static void rtl871x_load_fw_cb(const struct firmware *firmware, void *context)
 		dev_err(&udev->dev, "r8712u: Firmware request failed\n");
 		usb_put_dev(udev);
 		usb_set_intfdata(usb_intf, NULL);
+		complete(&adapter->rtl8712_fw_ready);
 		return;
 	}
 	adapter->fw = firmware;
 	/* firmware available - start netdev */
 	register_netdev(adapter->pnetdev);
+	complete(&adapter->rtl8712_fw_ready);
 }
 
 static const char firmware_file[] = "rtlwifi/rtl8712u.bin";
diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
index a87562f632a7..5a5f27b87eac 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
@@ -595,13 +595,14 @@ static void r871xu_dev_remove(struct usb_interface *pusb_intf)
 	if (pnetdev) {
 		struct _adapter *padapter = netdev_priv(pnetdev);
 
-		usb_set_intfdata(pusb_intf, NULL);
-		release_firmware(padapter->fw);
 		/* never exit with a firmware callback pending */
 		wait_for_completion(&padapter->rtl8712_fw_ready);
+		usb_set_intfdata(pusb_intf, NULL);
+		release_firmware(padapter->fw);
 		if (drvpriv.drv_registered)
 			padapter->surprise_removed = true;
-		unregister_netdev(pnetdev); /* will call netdev_close() */
+		if (pnetdev->reg_state != NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
+			unregister_netdev(pnetdev); /* will call netdev_close() */
 		flush_scheduled_work();
 		udelay(1);
 		/* Stop driver mlme relation timer */