diff --git a/sound/pci/korg1212/korg1212.c b/sound/pci/korg1212/korg1212.c
index c7b007164c99..4206ba44d8bb 100644
--- a/sound/pci/korg1212/korg1212.c
+++ b/sound/pci/korg1212/korg1212.c
@@ -2348,7 +2348,6 @@ static int snd_korg1212_create(struct snd_card *card, struct pci_dev *pci,
 
 	err = request_firmware(&dsp_code, "korg/k1212.dsp", &pci->dev);
 	if (err < 0) {
-		release_firmware(dsp_code);
 		snd_printk(KERN_ERR "firmware not available\n");
 		snd_korg1212_free(korg1212);
 		return err;