diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmfmac/firmware.c b/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmfmac/firmware.c
index 0eb13e5df5177..d99140960a820 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmfmac/firmware.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/broadcom/brcm80211/brcmfmac/firmware.c
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ int brcmf_fw_get_firmwares(struct device *dev, struct brcmf_fw_request *req,
 {
 	struct brcmf_fw_item *first = &req->items[0];
 	struct brcmf_fw *fwctx;
-	char *alt_path;
+	char *alt_path = NULL;
 	int ret;
 
 	brcmf_dbg(TRACE, "enter: dev=%s\n", dev_name(dev));
@@ -712,7 +712,9 @@ int brcmf_fw_get_firmwares(struct device *dev, struct brcmf_fw_request *req,
 	fwctx->done = fw_cb;
 
 	/* First try alternative board-specific path if any */
-	alt_path = brcm_alt_fw_path(first->path, fwctx->req->board_type);
+	if (fwctx->req->board_type)
+		alt_path = brcm_alt_fw_path(first->path,
+					    fwctx->req->board_type);
 	if (alt_path) {
 		ret = request_firmware_nowait(THIS_MODULE, true, alt_path,
 					      fwctx->dev, GFP_KERNEL, fwctx,