diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.c
index a4f635820..9b4c4facf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.c
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ static const struct firmware *ath10k_fetch_fw_file(struct ath10k *ar,
 		dir = ".";
 
 	snprintf(filename, sizeof(filename), "%s/%s", dir, file);
-	ret = request_firmware(&fw, filename, ar->dev);
+	ret = request_firmware_direct(&fw, filename, ar->dev);
 	ath10k_dbg(ar, ATH10K_DBG_BOOT, "boot fw request '%s': %d\n",
 		   filename, ret);