diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_devlink.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_devlink.c
index 184b6d0513b2..4ebae8a236fd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_devlink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_devlink.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ bnxt_dl_flash_update(struct devlink *dl,
 
 	devlink_flash_update_begin_notify(dl);
 	devlink_flash_update_status_notify(dl, "Preparing to flash", NULL, 0, 0);
-	rc = bnxt_flash_package_from_file(bp->dev, params->file_name, 0);
+	rc = bnxt_flash_package_from_fw_obj(bp->dev, params->fw, 0);
 	if (!rc)
 		devlink_flash_update_status_notify(dl, "Flashing done", NULL, 0, 0);
 	else
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
index 53687bc7fcf5..91e73aedcdff 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.c
@@ -2416,13 +2416,12 @@ static int bnxt_flash_firmware_from_file(struct net_device *dev,
 	return rc;
 }
 
-int bnxt_flash_package_from_file(struct net_device *dev, const char *filename,
-				 u32 install_type)
+int bnxt_flash_package_from_fw_obj(struct net_device *dev, const struct firmware *fw,
+				   u32 install_type)
 {
 	struct bnxt *bp = netdev_priv(dev);
 	struct hwrm_nvm_install_update_output *resp = bp->hwrm_cmd_resp_addr;
 	struct hwrm_nvm_install_update_input install = {0};
-	const struct firmware *fw;
 	u32 item_len;
 	int rc = 0;
 	u16 index;
@@ -2437,13 +2436,6 @@ int bnxt_flash_package_from_file(struct net_device *dev, const char *filename,
 		return rc;
 	}
 
-	rc = request_firmware(&fw, filename, &dev->dev);
-	if (rc != 0) {
-		netdev_err(dev, "PKG error %d requesting file: %s\n",
-			   rc, filename);
-		return rc;
-	}
-
 	if (fw->size > item_len) {
 		netdev_err(dev, "PKG insufficient update area in nvram: %lu\n",
 			   (unsigned long)fw->size);
@@ -2475,7 +2467,6 @@ int bnxt_flash_package_from_file(struct net_device *dev, const char *filename,
 					  dma_handle);
 		}
 	}
-	release_firmware(fw);
 	if (rc)
 		goto err_exit;
 
@@ -2514,6 +2505,26 @@ int bnxt_flash_package_from_file(struct net_device *dev, const char *filename,
 	return rc;
 }
 
+static int bnxt_flash_package_from_file(struct net_device *dev, const char *filename,
+					u32 install_type)
+{
+	const struct firmware *fw;
+	int rc;
+
+	rc = request_firmware(&fw, filename, &dev->dev);
+	if (rc != 0) {
+		netdev_err(dev, "PKG error %d requesting file: %s\n",
+			   rc, filename);
+		return rc;
+	}
+
+	rc = bnxt_flash_package_from_fw_obj(dev, fw, install_type);
+
+	release_firmware(fw);
+
+	return rc;
+}
+
 static int bnxt_flash_device(struct net_device *dev,
 			     struct ethtool_flash *flash)
 {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.h
index fa6fbde52bea..0a57cb6a4a4b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt_ethtool.h
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ u32 bnxt_fw_to_ethtool_speed(u16);
 u16 bnxt_get_fw_auto_link_speeds(u32);
 int bnxt_hwrm_nvm_get_dev_info(struct bnxt *bp,
 			       struct hwrm_nvm_get_dev_info_output *nvm_dev_info);
-int bnxt_flash_package_from_file(struct net_device *dev, const char *filename,
-				 u32 install_type);
+int bnxt_flash_package_from_fw_obj(struct net_device *dev, const struct firmware *fw,
+				   u32 install_type);
 void bnxt_ethtool_init(struct bnxt *bp);
 void bnxt_ethtool_free(struct bnxt *bp);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/huawei/hinic/hinic_devlink.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/huawei/hinic/hinic_devlink.c
index 2630d667f393..58d5646444b0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/huawei/hinic/hinic_devlink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/huawei/hinic/hinic_devlink.c
@@ -285,18 +285,8 @@ static int hinic_devlink_flash_update(struct devlink *devlink,
 				      struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct hinic_devlink_priv *priv = devlink_priv(devlink);
-	const struct firmware *fw;
-	int err;
 
-	err = request_firmware_direct(&fw, params->file_name,
-				      &priv->hwdev->hwif->pdev->dev);
-	if (err)
-		return err;
-
-	err = hinic_firmware_update(priv, fw, extack);
-	release_firmware(fw);
-
-	return err;
+	return hinic_firmware_update(priv, params->fw, extack);
 }
 
 static const struct devlink_ops hinic_devlink_ops = {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_devlink.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_devlink.c
index 511da59bd6f2..0036d3e7df0b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_devlink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_devlink.c
@@ -247,9 +247,7 @@ ice_devlink_flash_update(struct devlink *devlink,
 			 struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct ice_pf *pf = devlink_priv(devlink);
-	struct device *dev = &pf->pdev->dev;
 	struct ice_hw *hw = &pf->hw;
-	const struct firmware *fw;
 	u8 preservation;
 	int err;
 
@@ -277,21 +275,11 @@ ice_devlink_flash_update(struct devlink *devlink,
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 
-	err = request_firmware(&fw, params->file_name, dev);
-	if (err) {
-		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Unable to read file from disk");
-		return err;
-	}
-
-	dev_dbg(dev, "Beginning flash update with file '%s'\n", params->file_name);
-
 	devlink_flash_update_begin_notify(devlink);
 	devlink_flash_update_status_notify(devlink, "Preparing to flash", NULL, 0, 0);
-	err = ice_flash_pldm_image(pf, fw, preservation, extack);
+	err = ice_flash_pldm_image(pf, params->fw, preservation, extack);
 	devlink_flash_update_end_notify(devlink);
 
-	release_firmware(fw);
-
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/devlink.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/devlink.c
index a28f95df2901..e2ed341648e4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/devlink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/devlink.c
@@ -13,17 +13,8 @@ static int mlx5_devlink_flash_update(struct devlink *devlink,
 				     struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct mlx5_core_dev *dev = devlink_priv(devlink);
-	const struct firmware *fw;
-	int err;
 
-	err = request_firmware_direct(&fw, params->file_name, &dev->pdev->dev);
-	if (err)
-		return err;
-
-	err = mlx5_firmware_flash(dev, fw, extack);
-	release_firmware(fw);
-
-	return err;
+	return mlx5_firmware_flash(dev, params->fw, extack);
 }
 
 static u8 mlx5_fw_ver_major(u32 version)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlxsw/core.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlxsw/core.c
index 937b8e46f8c7..88b751470c58 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlxsw/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlxsw/core.c
@@ -1116,16 +1116,7 @@ static int mlxsw_core_fw_flash_update(struct mlxsw_core *mlxsw_core,
 				      struct devlink_flash_update_params *params,
 				      struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
-	const struct firmware *firmware;
-	int err;
-
-	err = request_firmware_direct(&firmware, params->file_name, mlxsw_core->bus_info->dev);
-	if (err)
-		return err;
-	err = mlxsw_core_fw_flash(mlxsw_core, firmware, extack);
-	release_firmware(firmware);
-
-	return err;
+	return mlxsw_core_fw_flash(mlxsw_core, params->fw, extack);
 }
 
 static int mlxsw_core_devlink_param_fw_load_policy_validate(struct devlink *devlink, u32 id,
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_devlink.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_devlink.c
index 97d2b03208de..713ee3041d49 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_devlink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_devlink.c
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ nfp_devlink_flash_update(struct devlink *devlink,
 			 struct devlink_flash_update_params *params,
 			 struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
-	return nfp_flash_update_common(devlink_priv(devlink), params->file_name, extack);
+	return nfp_flash_update_common(devlink_priv(devlink), params->fw, extack);
 }
 
 const struct devlink_ops nfp_devlink_ops = {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_main.c
index e672614d2906..742a420152b3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_main.c
@@ -301,11 +301,10 @@ static int nfp_pcie_sriov_configure(struct pci_dev *pdev, int num_vfs)
 		return nfp_pcie_sriov_enable(pdev, num_vfs);
 }
 
-int nfp_flash_update_common(struct nfp_pf *pf, const char *path,
+int nfp_flash_update_common(struct nfp_pf *pf, const struct firmware *fw,
 			    struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct device *dev = &pf->pdev->dev;
-	const struct firmware *fw;
 	struct nfp_nsp *nsp;
 	int err;
 
@@ -319,24 +318,12 @@ int nfp_flash_update_common(struct nfp_pf *pf, const char *path,
 		return err;
 	}
 
-	err = request_firmware_direct(&fw, path, dev);
-	if (err) {
-		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack,
-				   "unable to read flash file from disk");
-		goto exit_close_nsp;
-	}
-
-	dev_info(dev, "Please be patient while writing flash image: %s\n",
-		 path);
-
 	err = nfp_nsp_write_flash(nsp, fw);
 	if (err < 0)
-		goto exit_release_fw;
+		goto exit_close_nsp;
 	dev_info(dev, "Finished writing flash image\n");
 	err = 0;
 
-exit_release_fw:
-	release_firmware(fw);
 exit_close_nsp:
 	nfp_nsp_close(nsp);
 	return err;
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_main.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_main.h
index fa6b13a05941..a7dede946a33 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_main.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_main.h
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ nfp_pf_map_rtsym(struct nfp_pf *pf, const char *name, const char *sym_fmt,
 		 unsigned int min_size, struct nfp_cpp_area **area);
 int nfp_mbox_cmd(struct nfp_pf *pf, u32 cmd, void *in_data, u64 in_length,
 		 void *out_data, u64 out_length);
-int nfp_flash_update_common(struct nfp_pf *pf, const char *path,
+int nfp_flash_update_common(struct nfp_pf *pf, const struct firmware *fw,
 			    struct netlink_ext_ack *extack);
 
 enum nfp_dump_diag {
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.c
index 51d64718ed9f..b41301a5b0df 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ static int ionic_dl_flash_update(struct devlink *dl,
 {
 	struct ionic *ionic = devlink_priv(dl);
 
-	return ionic_firmware_update(ionic->lif, params->file_name, extack);
+	return ionic_firmware_update(ionic->lif, params->fw, extack);
 }
 
 static int ionic_dl_info_get(struct devlink *dl, struct devlink_info_req *req,
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.h
index 5c01a9e306d8..0a77e8e810c5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 #include <net/devlink.h>
 
-int ionic_firmware_update(struct ionic_lif *lif, const char *fw_name,
+int ionic_firmware_update(struct ionic_lif *lif, const struct firmware *fw,
 			  struct netlink_ext_ack *extack);
 
 struct ionic *ionic_devlink_alloc(struct device *dev);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_fw.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_fw.c
index d7bbf336c6f6..8922c316abe3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_fw.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_fw.c
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ static int ionic_fw_status_long_wait(struct ionic *ionic,
 	return err;
 }
 
-int ionic_firmware_update(struct ionic_lif *lif, const char *fw_name,
+int ionic_firmware_update(struct ionic_lif *lif, const struct firmware *fw,
 			  struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct ionic_dev *idev = &lif->ionic->idev;
@@ -99,24 +99,17 @@ int ionic_firmware_update(struct ionic_lif *lif, const char *fw_name,
 	struct ionic *ionic = lif->ionic;
 	union ionic_dev_cmd_comp comp;
 	u32 buf_sz, copy_sz, offset;
-	const struct firmware *fw;
 	struct devlink *dl;
 	int next_interval;
 	int err = 0;
 	u8 fw_slot;
 
-	netdev_info(netdev, "Installing firmware %s\n", fw_name);
+	netdev_info(netdev, "Installing firmware\n");
 
 	dl = priv_to_devlink(ionic);
 	devlink_flash_update_begin_notify(dl);
 	devlink_flash_update_status_notify(dl, "Preparing to flash", NULL, 0, 0);
 
-	err = request_firmware(&fw, fw_name, ionic->dev);
-	if (err) {
-		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Unable to find firmware file");
-		goto err_out;
-	}
-
 	buf_sz = sizeof(idev->dev_cmd_regs->data);
 
 	netdev_dbg(netdev,
@@ -200,7 +193,6 @@ int ionic_firmware_update(struct ionic_lif *lif, const char *fw_name,
 		devlink_flash_update_status_notify(dl, "Flash failed", NULL, 0, 0);
 	else
 		devlink_flash_update_status_notify(dl, "Flash done", NULL, 0, 0);
-	release_firmware(fw);
 	devlink_flash_update_end_notify(dl);
 	return err;
 }
diff --git a/include/net/devlink.h b/include/net/devlink.h
index b01bb9bca5a2..d1d125a33322 100644
--- a/include/net/devlink.h
+++ b/include/net/devlink.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <net/flow_offload.h>
 #include <uapi/linux/devlink.h>
 #include <linux/xarray.h>
+#include <linux/firmware.h>
 
 #define DEVLINK_RELOAD_STATS_ARRAY_SIZE \
 	(__DEVLINK_RELOAD_LIMIT_MAX * __DEVLINK_RELOAD_ACTION_MAX)
@@ -566,15 +567,15 @@ enum devlink_param_generic_id {
 
 /**
  * struct devlink_flash_update_params - Flash Update parameters
- * @file_name: the name of the flash firmware file to update from
+ * @fw: pointer to the firmware data to update from
  * @component: the flash component to update
  *
- * With the exception of file_name, drivers must opt-in to parameters by
+ * With the exception of fw, drivers must opt-in to parameters by
  * setting the appropriate bit in the supported_flash_update_params field in
  * their devlink_ops structure.
  */
 struct devlink_flash_update_params {
-	const char *file_name;
+	const struct firmware *fw;
 	const char *component;
 	u32 overwrite_mask;
 };
diff --git a/net/core/devlink.c b/net/core/devlink.c
index ab4b1368904f..b0121d79ac75 100644
--- a/net/core/devlink.c
+++ b/net/core/devlink.c
@@ -3429,10 +3429,12 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(devlink_flash_update_timeout_notify);
 static int devlink_nl_cmd_flash_update(struct sk_buff *skb,
 				       struct genl_info *info)
 {
-	struct nlattr *nla_component, *nla_overwrite_mask;
+	struct nlattr *nla_component, *nla_overwrite_mask, *nla_file_name;
 	struct devlink_flash_update_params params = {};
 	struct devlink *devlink = info->user_ptr[0];
+	const char *file_name;
 	u32 supported_params;
+	int ret;
 
 	if (!devlink->ops->flash_update)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -3442,8 +3444,6 @@ static int devlink_nl_cmd_flash_update(struct sk_buff *skb,
 
 	supported_params = devlink->ops->supported_flash_update_params;
 
-	params.file_name = nla_data(info->attrs[DEVLINK_ATTR_FLASH_UPDATE_FILE_NAME]);
-
 	nla_component = info->attrs[DEVLINK_ATTR_FLASH_UPDATE_COMPONENT];
 	if (nla_component) {
 		if (!(supported_params & DEVLINK_SUPPORT_FLASH_UPDATE_COMPONENT)) {
@@ -3467,7 +3467,19 @@ static int devlink_nl_cmd_flash_update(struct sk_buff *skb,
 		params.overwrite_mask = sections.value & sections.selector;
 	}
 
-	return devlink->ops->flash_update(devlink, &params, info->extack);
+	nla_file_name = info->attrs[DEVLINK_ATTR_FLASH_UPDATE_FILE_NAME];
+	file_name = nla_data(nla_file_name);
+	ret = request_firmware(&params.fw, file_name, devlink->dev);
+	if (ret) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_ATTR(info->extack, nla_file_name, "failed to locate the requested firmware file");
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	ret = devlink->ops->flash_update(devlink, &params, info->extack);
+
+	release_firmware(params.fw);
+
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static const struct devlink_param devlink_param_generic[] = {
@@ -10225,12 +10237,16 @@ int devlink_compat_flash_update(struct net_device *dev, const char *file_name)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	params.file_name = file_name;
+	ret = request_firmware(&params.fw, file_name, devlink->dev);
+	if (ret)
+		goto out;
 
 	mutex_lock(&devlink->lock);
 	ret = devlink->ops->flash_update(devlink, &params, NULL);
 	mutex_unlock(&devlink->lock);
 
+	release_firmware(params.fw);
+
 out:
 	rtnl_lock();
 	dev_put(dev);
