diff --git a/sys/compat/linuxkpi/common/src/linux_firmware.c b/sys/compat/linuxkpi/common/src/linux_firmware.c
index 12658df5ce8..0c6d855501e 100644
--- a/sys/compat/linuxkpi/common/src/linux_firmware.c
+++ b/sys/compat/linuxkpi/common/src/linux_firmware.c
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ _linuxkpi_request_firmware(const char *fw_name, const struct linuxkpi_firmware *
 	uint32_t flags;
 
 	if (fw_name == NULL || fw == NULL || dev == NULL) {
-		*fw = NULL;
+		if (fw != NULL)
+			*fw = NULL;
 		return (-EINVAL);
 	}