diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/btmtk.c b/drivers/bluetooth/btmtk.c
index 0ada5a12130d..5c62b802a199 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/btmtk.c
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/btmtk.c
@@ -213,7 +213,6 @@ int btmtk_setup_firmware_79xx(struct hci_dev *hdev, const char *fwname,
 
 			fw_ptr += section_offset;
 			wmt_params.op = BTMTK_WMT_PATCH_DWNLD;
-			wmt_params.status = NULL;
 
 			while (dl_size > 0) {
 				dlen = min_t(int, 250, dl_size);
@@ -231,7 +230,14 @@ int btmtk_setup_firmware_79xx(struct hci_dev *hdev, const char *fwname,
 				wmt_params.data = fw_ptr;
 
 				err = wmt_cmd_sync(hdev, &wmt_params);
-				if (err < 0) {
+				/* Status BTMTK_WMT_PATCH_PROGRESS indicates firmware is
+				 * in process of being downloaded, which is not expected to
+				 * occur here.
+				 */
+				if (status == BTMTK_WMT_PATCH_PROGRESS) {
+					err = -EIO;
+					goto err_release_fw;
+				} else if (err < 0) {
 					bt_dev_err(hdev, "Failed to send wmt patch dwnld (%d)",
 						   err);
 					goto err_release_fw;