diff --git a/net/ethtool/module.c b/net/ethtool/module.c
index cad2eb25b5a4..741f6fb25d45 100644
--- a/net/ethtool/module.c
+++ b/net/ethtool/module.c
@@ -427,10 +427,11 @@ int ethnl_act_module_fw_flash(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 
 	ret = ethnl_module_fw_flash_validate(dev, info->extack);
 	if (ret < 0)
-		goto out_unlock;
+		goto out_complete;
 
 	ret = module_flash_fw(dev, tb, skb, info);
 
+out_complete:
 	ethnl_ops_complete(dev);
 
 out_unlock: