}
 
 
-static int hdsp_check_for_firmware (struct hdsp *hdsp, int show_err)
+#ifdef HDSP_FW_LOADER
+static int __devinit hdsp_request_fw_loader(struct hdsp *hdsp);
+#endif
+
+static int hdsp_check_for_firmware (struct hdsp *hdsp, int load_on_demand)
 {
-       if (hdsp->io_type == H9652 || hdsp->io_type == H9632) return 0;
+       if (hdsp->io_type == H9652 || hdsp->io_type == H9632)
+               return 0;
        if ((hdsp_read (hdsp, HDSP_statusRegister) & HDSP_DllError) != 0) {
-               snd_printk(KERN_ERR "Hammerfall-DSP: firmware not present.\n");
                hdsp->state &= ~HDSP_FirmwareLoaded;
-               if (! show_err)
+               if (! load_on_demand)
                        return -EIO;
+               snd_printk(KERN_ERR "Hammerfall-DSP: firmware not present.\n");
                /* try to load firmware */
-               if (hdsp->state & HDSP_FirmwareCached) {
-                       if (snd_hdsp_load_firmware_from_cache(hdsp) != 0)
-                               snd_printk(KERN_ERR "Hammerfall-DSP: Firmware loading from cache failed, please upload manually.\n");
-               } else {
-                       snd_printk(KERN_ERR "Hammerfall-DSP: No firmware loaded nor cached, please upload firmware.\n");
+               if (! (hdsp->state & HDSP_FirmwareCached)) {
+#ifdef HDSP_FW_LOADER
+                       if (! hdsp_request_fw_loader(hdsp))
+                               return 0;
+#endif
+                       snd_printk(KERN_ERR
+                                  "Hammerfall-DSP: No firmware loaded nor "
+                                  "cached, please upload firmware.\n");
+                       return -EIO;
+               }
+               if (snd_hdsp_load_firmware_from_cache(hdsp) != 0) {
+                       snd_printk(KERN_ERR
+                                  "Hammerfall-DSP: Firmware loading from "
+                                  "cache failed, please upload manually.\n");
+                       return -EIO;
                }
-               return -EIO;
        }
        return 0;
 }
                                return;
                        }
                } else {
-                       snd_iprintf(buffer, "No firmware loaded nor cached, please upload firmware.\n");
-                       return;
+                       int err = -EINVAL;
+#ifdef HDSP_FW_LOADER
+                       err = hdsp_request_fw_loader(hdsp);
+#endif
+                       if (err < 0) {
+                               snd_iprintf(buffer,
+                                           "No firmware loaded nor cached, "
+                                           "please upload firmware.\n");
+                               return;
+                       }
                }
        }
        
        if (hdsp_check_for_iobox (hdsp))
                return -EIO;
 
-       if (hdsp_check_for_firmware(hdsp, 1))
+       if (hdsp_check_for_firmware(hdsp, 0)) /* no auto-loading in trigger */
                return -EIO;
 
        spin_lock(&hdsp->lock);