diff --git a/plugins/uefi-capsule/fu-uefi-tool.c b/plugins/uefi-capsule/fu-uefi-tool.c
index a8cedf0fc..689503608 100644
--- a/plugins/uefi-capsule/fu-uefi-tool.c
+++ b/plugins/uefi-capsule/fu-uefi-tool.c
@@ -276,6 +276,12 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		g_autoptr(FuBackend) backend = fu_uefi_backend_new(ctx);
 		g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
 
+		/* load SMBIOS */
+		if (!fu_context_load_hwinfo(ctx, &error_local)) {
+			g_printerr("failed: %s\n", error_local->message);
+			return EXIT_FAILURE;
+		}
+
 		/* add each device */
 		if (!fu_backend_coldplug(backend, &error_local)) {
 			g_printerr("failed: %s\n", error_local->message);
@@ -392,6 +398,12 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
 		g_autoptr(GBytes) fw = NULL;
 
+		/* load SMBIOS */
+		if (!fu_context_load_hwinfo(ctx, &error_local)) {
+			g_printerr("failed: %s\n", error_local->message);
+			return EXIT_FAILURE;
+		}
+
 		/* type is specified, otherwise use default */
 		if (type != NULL) {
 			if (g_strcmp0(type, "nvram") == 0) {