diff --git a/net/ethtool/module.c b/net/ethtool/module.c
index cdb85e19a23b..5b49004ddf60 100644
--- a/net/ethtool/module.c
+++ b/net/ethtool/module.c
@@ -120,12 +120,6 @@ ethnl_set_module_validate(struct ethnl_req_info *req_info,
 	if (!tb[ETHTOOL_A_MODULE_POWER_MODE_POLICY])
 		return 0;
 
-	if (req_info->dev->ethtool->module_fw_flash_in_progress) {
-		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(info->extack,
-			       "Module firmware flashing is in progress");
-		return -EBUSY;
-	}
-
 	if (!ops->get_module_power_mode || !ops->set_module_power_mode) {
 		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_ATTR(info->extack,
 				    tb[ETHTOOL_A_MODULE_POWER_MODE_POLICY],
@@ -148,6 +142,12 @@ ethnl_set_module(struct ethnl_req_info *req_info, struct genl_info *info)
 
 	ops = dev->ethtool_ops;
 
+	if (dev->ethtool->module_fw_flash_in_progress) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(info->extack,
+			       "Module firmware flashing is in progress");
+		return -EBUSY;
+	}
+
 	power_new.policy = nla_get_u8(tb[ETHTOOL_A_MODULE_POWER_MODE_POLICY]);
 	ret = ops->get_module_power_mode(dev, &power, info->extack);
 	if (ret < 0)