diff --git a/mt792x_core.c b/mt792x_core.c
index 9d66aef8..5a5d7534 100644
--- a/mt792x_core.c
+++ b/mt792x_core.c
@@ -925,6 +925,13 @@ int mt792x_load_firmware(struct mt792x_dev *dev)
 {
 	int ret;
 
+	mt76_connac_mcu_restart(&dev->mt76);
+
+	if (!mt76_poll_msec(dev, MT_CONN_ON_MISC, MT_TOP_MISC_FW_STATE,
+			    MT_TOP_MISC2_FW_PWR_ON, 1000))
+		dev_warn(dev->mt76.dev,
+			 "MCU is not ready for firmware download\n");
+
 	ret = mt76_connac2_load_patch(&dev->mt76, mt792x_patch_name(dev));
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;