--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/qmi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/qmi.c
@@ -2172,8 +2172,10 @@ ath11k_qmi_prepare_bdf_download(struct ath11k_base *ab, int type,
 			 "%s/%s", ab->hw_params.fw.dir, ATH11K_QMI_DEFAULT_CAL_FILE_NAME);
 		ret = request_firmware(&fw_entry, filename, dev);
 		if (ret) {
-			ath11k_warn(ab, "qmi failed to load CAL: %s\n", filename);
-			goto out;
+			ath11k_warn(ab,
+				    "qmi failed to load CAL data file:%s booting with minimal performance\n",
+				    filename);
+			return 0;
 		}
 
 		fw_size = min_t(u32, ab->hw_params.fw.board_size,