diff --git a/include/linux/firmware.h b/include/linux/firmware.h
index 4d10c7328d2d..6c7eff2ebada 100644
--- a/include/linux/firmware.h
+++ b/include/linux/firmware.h
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ struct firmware {
 
 struct device;
 
-#if defined(CONFIG_FW_LOADER) || defined(CONFIG_FW_LOADER_MODULE)
+#if defined(CONFIG_FW_LOADER) || (defined(CONFIG_FW_LOADER_MODULE) && defined(MODULE))
 int request_firmware(const struct firmware **fw, const char *name,
 		     struct device *device);
 int request_firmware_nowait(