diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/btrtl.c b/drivers/bluetooth/btrtl.c
index 41405de27d66..c91bba00df4e 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/btrtl.c
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/btrtl.c
@@ -552,10 +552,9 @@ struct btrtl_device_info *btrtl_initialize(struct hci_dev *hdev,
 					    hdev->bus);
 
 	if (!btrtl_dev->ic_info) {
-		rtl_dev_err(hdev, "rtl: unknown IC info, lmp subver %04x, hci rev %04x, hci ver %04x",
+		rtl_dev_info(hdev, "rtl: unknown IC info, lmp subver %04x, hci rev %04x, hci ver %04x",
 			    lmp_subver, hci_rev, hci_ver);
-		ret = -EINVAL;
-		goto err_free;
+		return btrtl_dev;
 	}
 
 	if (btrtl_dev->ic_info->has_rom_version) {
@@ -610,6 +609,11 @@ int btrtl_download_firmware(struct hci_dev *hdev,
 	 * standard btusb. Once that firmware is uploaded, the subver changes
 	 * to a different value.
 	 */
+	if (!btrtl_dev->ic_info) {
+		rtl_dev_info(hdev, "rtl: assuming no firmware upload needed\n");
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	switch (btrtl_dev->ic_info->lmp_subver) {
 	case RTL_ROM_LMP_8723A:
 	case RTL_ROM_LMP_3499: