diff --git a/drivers/media/common/tuners/tuner-xc2028.c b/drivers/media/common/tuners/tuner-xc2028.c
index b5ee3eb..9638a69 100644
--- a/drivers/media/common/tuners/tuner-xc2028.c
+++ b/drivers/media/common/tuners/tuner-xc2028.c
@@ -90,11 +90,22 @@ struct firmware_properties {
 	int 		scode_nr;
 };
 
+enum xc2028_state {
+	XC2028_NO_FIRMWARE = 0,
+	XC2028_WAITING_FIRMWARE,
+	XC2028_ACTIVE,
+	XC2028_SLEEP,
+	XC2028_NODEV,
+};
+
 struct xc2028_data {
 	struct list_head        hybrid_tuner_instance_list;
 	struct tuner_i2c_props  i2c_props;
 	__u32			frequency;
 
+	enum xc2028_state	state;
+	const char		*fname;
+
 	struct firmware_description *firm;
 	int			firm_size;
 	__u16			firm_version;
@@ -255,6 +266,21 @@ static  v4l2_std_id parse_audio_std_option(void)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int check_device_status(struct xc2028_data *priv)
+{
+	switch (priv->state) {
+	case XC2028_NO_FIRMWARE:
+	case XC2028_WAITING_FIRMWARE:
+		return -EAGAIN;
+	case XC2028_ACTIVE:
+	case XC2028_SLEEP:
+		return 0;
+	case XC2028_NODEV:
+		return -ENODEV;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static void free_firmware(struct xc2028_data *priv)
 {
 	int i;
@@ -270,45 +296,28 @@ static void free_firmware(struct xc2028_data *priv)
 
 	priv->firm = NULL;
 	priv->firm_size = 0;
+	priv->state = XC2028_NO_FIRMWARE;
 
 	memset(&priv->cur_fw, 0, sizeof(priv->cur_fw));
 }
 
-static int load_all_firmwares(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
+static int load_all_firmwares(struct dvb_frontend *fe,
+			      const struct firmware *fw)
 {
 	struct xc2028_data    *priv = fe->tuner_priv;
-	const struct firmware *fw   = NULL;
 	const unsigned char   *p, *endp;
 	int                   rc = 0;
 	int		      n, n_array;
 	char		      name[33];
-	char		      *fname;
 
 	tuner_dbg("%s called\n", __func__);
 
-	if (!firmware_name[0])
-		fname = priv->ctrl.fname;
-	else
-		fname = firmware_name;
-
-	tuner_dbg("Reading firmware %s\n", fname);
-	rc = request_firmware(&fw, fname, priv->i2c_props.adap->dev.parent);
-	if (rc < 0) {
-		if (rc == -ENOENT)
-			tuner_err("Error: firmware %s not found.\n",
-				   fname);
-		else
-			tuner_err("Error %d while requesting firmware %s \n",
-				   rc, fname);
-
-		return rc;
-	}
 	p = fw->data;
 	endp = p + fw->size;
 
 	if (fw->size < sizeof(name) - 1 + 2 + 2) {
 		tuner_err("Error: firmware file %s has invalid size!\n",
-			  fname);
+			  priv->fname);
 		goto corrupt;
 	}
 
@@ -323,7 +332,7 @@ static int load_all_firmwares(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
 	p += 2;
 
 	tuner_info("Loading %d firmware images from %s, type: %s, ver %d.%d\n",
-		   n_array, fname, name,
+		   n_array, priv->fname, name,
 		   priv->firm_version >> 8, priv->firm_version & 0xff);
 
 	priv->firm = kcalloc(n_array, sizeof(*priv->firm), GFP_KERNEL);
@@ -417,9 +426,10 @@ err:
 	free_firmware(priv);
 
 done:
-	release_firmware(fw);
 	if (rc == 0)
 		tuner_dbg("Firmware files loaded.\n");
+	else
+		priv->state = XC2028_NODEV;
 
 	return rc;
 }
@@ -707,22 +717,15 @@ static int check_firmware(struct dvb_frontend *fe, unsigned int type,
 {
 	struct xc2028_data         *priv = fe->tuner_priv;
 	struct firmware_properties new_fw;
-	int			   rc = 0, retry_count = 0;
+	int			   rc, retry_count = 0;
 	u16			   version, hwmodel;
 	v4l2_std_id		   std0;
 
 	tuner_dbg("%s called\n", __func__);
 
-	if (!priv->firm) {
-		if (!priv->ctrl.fname) {
-			tuner_info("xc2028/3028 firmware name not set!\n");
-			return -EINVAL;
-		}
-
-		rc = load_all_firmwares(fe);
-		if (rc < 0)
-			return rc;
-	}
+	rc = check_device_status(priv);
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return rc;
 
 	if (priv->ctrl.mts && !(type & FM))
 		type |= MTS;
@@ -749,9 +752,13 @@ retry:
 		printk("scode_nr %d\n", new_fw.scode_nr);
 	}
 
-	/* No need to reload base firmware if it matches */
-	if (((BASE | new_fw.type) & BASE_TYPES) ==
-	    (priv->cur_fw.type & BASE_TYPES)) {
+	/*
+	 * No need to reload base firmware if it matches and if the tuner
+	 * is not at sleep mode
+	 */
+	if ((priv->state = XC2028_ACTIVE) &&
+	    (((BASE | new_fw.type) & BASE_TYPES) ==
+	    (priv->cur_fw.type & BASE_TYPES))) {
 		tuner_dbg("BASE firmware not changed.\n");
 		goto skip_base;
 	}
@@ -872,10 +879,13 @@ read_not_reliable:
 	 * 2. Tell whether BASE firmware was just changed the next time through.
 	 */
 	priv->cur_fw.type |= BASE;
+	priv->state = XC2028_ACTIVE;
 
 	return 0;
 
 fail:
+	priv->state = XC2028_SLEEP;
+
 	memset(&priv->cur_fw, 0, sizeof(priv->cur_fw));
 	if (retry_count < 8) {
 		msleep(50);
@@ -897,6 +907,10 @@ static int xc2028_signal(struct dvb_frontend *fe, u16 *strength)
 
 	tuner_dbg("%s called\n", __func__);
 
+	rc = check_device_status(priv);
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return rc;
+
 	mutex_lock(&priv->lock);
 
 	/* Sync Lock Indicator */
@@ -1111,11 +1125,16 @@ static int xc2028_set_params(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
 	u32 delsys = c->delivery_system;
 	u32 bw = c->bandwidth_hz;
 	struct xc2028_data *priv = fe->tuner_priv;
-	unsigned int       type=0;
+	int rc;
+	unsigned int       type = 0;
 	u16                demod = 0;
 
 	tuner_dbg("%s called\n", __func__);
 
+	rc = check_device_status(priv);
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return rc;
+
 	switch (delsys) {
 	case SYS_DVBT:
 	case SYS_DVBT2:
@@ -1201,7 +1220,11 @@ static int xc2028_set_params(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
 static int xc2028_sleep(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
 {
 	struct xc2028_data *priv = fe->tuner_priv;
-	int rc = 0;
+	int rc;
+
+	rc = check_device_status(priv);
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return rc;
 
 	/* Avoid firmware reload on slow devices or if PM disabled */
 	if (no_poweroff || priv->ctrl.disable_power_mgmt)
@@ -1220,7 +1243,7 @@ static int xc2028_sleep(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
 	else
 		rc = send_seq(priv, {0x80, XREG_POWER_DOWN, 0x00, 0x00});
 
-	priv->cur_fw.type = 0;	/* need firmware reload */
+	priv->state = XC2028_SLEEP;
 
 	mutex_unlock(&priv->lock);
 
@@ -1237,8 +1260,9 @@ static int xc2028_dvb_release(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
 
 	/* only perform final cleanup if this is the last instance */
 	if (hybrid_tuner_report_instance_count(priv) == 1) {
-		kfree(priv->ctrl.fname);
 		free_firmware(priv);
+		kfree(priv->ctrl.fname);
+		priv->ctrl.fname = NULL;
 	}
 
 	if (priv)
@@ -1254,14 +1278,42 @@ static int xc2028_dvb_release(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
 static int xc2028_get_frequency(struct dvb_frontend *fe, u32 *frequency)
 {
 	struct xc2028_data *priv = fe->tuner_priv;
+	int rc;
 
 	tuner_dbg("%s called\n", __func__);
 
+	rc = check_device_status(priv);
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return rc;
+
 	*frequency = priv->frequency;
 
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static void load_firmware_cb(const struct firmware *fw,
+			     void *context)
+{
+	struct dvb_frontend *fe = context;
+	struct xc2028_data *priv = fe->tuner_priv;
+	int rc;
+
+	tuner_dbg("request_firmware_nowait(): %s\n", fw ? "OK" : "error");
+	if (!fw) {
+		tuner_err("Could not load firmware %s.\n", priv->fname);
+		priv->state = XC2028_NODEV;
+		return;
+	}
+
+	rc = load_all_firmwares(fe, fw);
+
+	release_firmware(fw);
+
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return;
+	priv->state = XC2028_SLEEP;
+}
+
 static int xc2028_set_config(struct dvb_frontend *fe, void *priv_cfg)
 {
 	struct xc2028_data *priv = fe->tuner_priv;
@@ -1272,21 +1324,49 @@ static int xc2028_set_config(struct dvb_frontend *fe, void *priv_cfg)
 
 	mutex_lock(&priv->lock);
 
+	/*
+	 * Copy the config data.
+	 * For the firmware name, keep a local copy of the string,
+	 * in order to avoid troubles during device release.
+	 */
+	if (priv->ctrl.fname)
+		kfree(priv->ctrl.fname);
 	memcpy(&priv->ctrl, p, sizeof(priv->ctrl));
-	if (priv->ctrl.max_len < 9)
-		priv->ctrl.max_len = 13;
-
 	if (p->fname) {
-		if (priv->ctrl.fname && strcmp(p->fname, priv->ctrl.fname)) {
-			kfree(priv->ctrl.fname);
-			free_firmware(priv);
-		}
-
 		priv->ctrl.fname = kstrdup(p->fname, GFP_KERNEL);
 		if (priv->ctrl.fname == NULL)
 			rc = -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * If firmware name changed, frees firmware. As free_firmware will
+	 * reset the status to NO_FIRMWARE, this forces a new request_firmware
+	 */
+	if (!firmware_name[0] && p->fname &&
+	    priv->fname && strcmp(p->fname, priv->fname))
+		free_firmware(priv);
+
+	if (priv->ctrl.max_len < 9)
+		priv->ctrl.max_len = 13;
+
+	if (priv->state == XC2028_NO_FIRMWARE) {
+		if (!firmware_name[0])
+			priv->fname = priv->ctrl.fname;
+		else
+			priv->fname = firmware_name;
+
+		rc = request_firmware_nowait(THIS_MODULE, 1,
+					     priv->fname,
+					     priv->i2c_props.adap->dev.parent,
+					     GFP_KERNEL,
+					     fe, load_firmware_cb);
+		if (rc < 0) {
+			tuner_err("Failed to request firmware %s\n",
+				  priv->fname);
+			priv->state = XC2028_NODEV;
+		}
+		priv->state = XC2028_WAITING_FIRMWARE;
+	}
 	mutex_unlock(&priv->lock);
 
 	return rc;
