diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/ath3k.c b/drivers/bluetooth/ath3k.c
index 6bacef3..a585473 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/ath3k.c
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/ath3k.c
@@ -375,6 +375,11 @@
 
 	/* load patch and sysconfig files for AR3012 */
 	if (id->driver_info & BTUSB_ATH3012) {
+
+		/* New firmware with patch and sysconfig files already loaded */
+		if (le16_to_cpu(udev->descriptor.bcdDevice) > 0x0001)
+			return -ENODEV;
+
 		ret = ath3k_load_patch(udev);
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			BT_ERR("Loading patch file failed");
diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/btusb.c b/drivers/bluetooth/btusb.c
index c2de895..91d13a9 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/btusb.c
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/btusb.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
 #define BTUSB_BCM92035		0x10
 #define BTUSB_BROKEN_ISOC	0x20
 #define BTUSB_WRONG_SCO_MTU	0x40
+#define BTUSB_ATH3012		0x80
 
 static struct usb_device_id btusb_table[] = {
 	/* Generic Bluetooth USB device */
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@
 	{ USB_DEVICE(0x03f0, 0x311d), .driver_info = BTUSB_IGNORE },
 
 	/* Atheros 3012 with sflash firmware */
-	{ USB_DEVICE(0x0cf3, 0x3004), .driver_info = BTUSB_IGNORE },
+	{ USB_DEVICE(0x0cf3, 0x3004), .driver_info = BTUSB_ATH3012 },
 
 	/* Atheros AR5BBU12 with sflash firmware */
 	{ USB_DEVICE(0x0489, 0xe02c), .driver_info = BTUSB_IGNORE },
@@ -914,6 +915,15 @@
 	if (ignore_sniffer && id->driver_info & BTUSB_SNIFFER)
 		return -ENODEV;
 
+	if (id->driver_info & BTUSB_ATH3012) {
+		struct usb_device *udev = interface_to_usbdev(intf);
+
+		/* Old firmware would otherwise let ath3k driver load
+		 * patch and sysconfig files */
+		if (le16_to_cpu(udev->descriptor.bcdDevice) <= 0x0001)
+			return -ENODEV;
+	}
+
 	data = kzalloc(sizeof(*data), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!data)
 		return -ENOMEM;