diff --git a/drivers/base/core.c b/drivers/base/core.c
index 61fdfe99b3482..977b379a495b8 100644
--- a/drivers/base/core.c
+++ b/drivers/base/core.c
@@ -1613,7 +1613,7 @@ static int __init fw_devlink_setup(char *arg)
 }
 early_param("fw_devlink", fw_devlink_setup);
 
-static bool fw_devlink_strict;
+static bool fw_devlink_strict = true;
 static int __init fw_devlink_strict_setup(char *arg)
 {
 	return strtobool(arg, &fw_devlink_strict);