diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8192u/r8192U_core.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8192u/r8192U_core.c
index 89b637281ada..74cf9e710ece 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8192u/r8192U_core.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8192u/r8192U_core.c
@@ -2706,6 +2706,7 @@ static short rtl8192_get_channel_map(struct net_device *dev)
 static short rtl8192_init(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	struct r8192_priv *priv = ieee80211_priv(dev);
+	int err;
 
 	memset(&(priv->stats), 0, sizeof(struct Stats));
 	memset(priv->txqueue_to_outpipemap, 0, 9);
@@ -2727,7 +2728,14 @@ static short rtl8192_init(struct net_device *dev)
 	rtl8192_init_priv_lock(priv);
 	rtl8192_init_priv_task(dev);
 	rtl8192_get_eeprom_size(dev);
-	rtl8192_read_eeprom_info(dev);
+	err = rtl8192_read_eeprom_info(dev);
+	if (err) {
+		DMESG("Reading EEPROM info failed");
+		kfree(priv->pFirmware);
+		priv->pFirmware = NULL;
+		free_ieee80211(dev);
+		return err;
+	}
 	rtl8192_get_channel_map(dev);
 	init_hal_dm(dev);
 	setup_timer(&priv->watch_dog_timer, watch_dog_timer_callback,