diff --git a/drivers/fpga/fpga-mgr.c b/drivers/fpga/fpga-mgr.c
index bfbf8aa..953dc91 100644
--- a/drivers/fpga/fpga-mgr.c
+++ b/drivers/fpga/fpga-mgr.c
@@ -122,12 +122,10 @@
 	}
 
 	ret = fpga_mgr_buf_load(mgr, flags, fw->data, fw->size);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
 
 	release_firmware(fw);
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(fpga_mgr_firmware_load);