diff --git a/drivers/net/starfire.c b/drivers/net/starfire.c
index 95db60adde4171b5b4f20953b06747c00b946ba2..f9521136a869bde8e313072c26f5979e2f84277a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/starfire.c
+++ b/drivers/net/starfire.c
@@ -1063,7 +1063,7 @@ static int netdev_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	if (retval) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "starfire: Failed to load firmware \"%s\"\n",
 		       FIRMWARE_RX);
-		return retval;
+		goto out_init;
 	}
 	if (fw_rx->size % 4) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "starfire: bogus length %zu in \"%s\"\n",
@@ -1108,6 +1108,9 @@ static int netdev_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	release_firmware(fw_tx);
 out_rx:
 	release_firmware(fw_rx);
+out_init:
+	if (retval)
+		netdev_close(dev);
 	return retval;
 }