diff --git a/target/linux/ar71xx/base-files/etc/hotplug.d/firmware/10-ath9k-eeprom b/target/linux/ar71xx/base-files/etc/hotplug.d/firmware/10-ath9k-eeprom
index 5398e76105..33b1d74dc8 100644
--- a/target/linux/ar71xx/base-files/etc/hotplug.d/firmware/10-ath9k-eeprom
+++ b/target/linux/ar71xx/base-files/etc/hotplug.d/firmware/10-ath9k-eeprom
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+[ -e /lib/firmware/$FIRMWARE ] && exit 0
+
+. /lib/ar71xx.sh
+. /lib/functions.sh
+. /lib/functions/system.sh
+
 ath9k_eeprom_die() {
 	echo "ath9k eeprom: " "$*"
 	exit 1
@@ -27,12 +33,6 @@ ath9k_patch_firmware_mac() {
 	macaddr_2bin $mac | dd of=/lib/firmware/$FIRMWARE conv=notrunc bs=1 seek=2 count=6
 }
 
-[ -e /lib/firmware/$FIRMWARE ] && exit 0
-
-. /lib/ar71xx.sh
-. /lib/functions.sh
-. /lib/functions/system.sh
-
 board=$(ar71xx_board_name)
 
 case "$FIRMWARE" in