diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
index e3d033df068f..834c7e7d7efc 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
@@ -521,6 +521,9 @@ int drm_fb_helper_restore_fbdev_mode_unlocked(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper)
 	if (!drm_fbdev_emulation)
 		return -ENODEV;
 
+	if (READ_ONCE(fb_helper->deferred_setup))
+		return 0;
+
 	mutex_lock(&fb_helper->lock);
 	ret = restore_fbdev_mode(fb_helper);
 
@@ -1693,6 +1696,23 @@ int drm_fb_helper_pan_display(struct fb_var_screeninfo *var,
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_fb_helper_pan_display);
 
+static bool drm_fb_helper_maybe_connected(struct drm_fb_helper *helper)
+{
+	bool connected = false;
+	unsigned int i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < helper->connector_count; i++) {
+		struct drm_fb_helper_connector *fb = helper->connector_info[i];
+
+		if (fb->connector->status != connector_status_disconnected) {
+			connected = true;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return connected;
+}
+
 /*
  * Allocates the backing storage and sets up the fbdev info structure through
  * the ->fb_probe callback and then registers the fbdev and sets up the panic
@@ -2352,8 +2372,6 @@ static void drm_setup_crtcs(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
 	int i;
 
 	DRM_DEBUG_KMS("\n");
-	if (drm_fb_helper_probe_connector_modes(fb_helper, width, height) == 0)
-		DRM_DEBUG_KMS("No connectors reported connected with modes\n");
 
 	/* prevent concurrent modification of connector_count by hotplug */
 	lockdep_assert_held(&fb_helper->lock);
@@ -2431,6 +2449,60 @@ static void drm_setup_crtcs(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
 	kfree(enabled);
 }
 
+/* Note: Drops&reacquires fb_helper->lock */
+static int __drm_fb_helper_initial_config(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
+					  int bpp_sel)
+{
+	struct drm_device *dev = fb_helper->dev;
+	struct fb_info *info;
+	unsigned int width, height;
+	int ret;
+
+	width = dev->mode_config.max_width;
+	height = dev->mode_config.max_height;
+
+	if (drm_fb_helper_probe_connector_modes(fb_helper, width, height) == 0)
+		DRM_DEBUG_KMS("No connectors reported connected with modes\n");
+
+	/*
+	 * If everything's disconnected, there's no use in attempting to set
+	 * up fbdev.
+	 */
+	if (!drm_fb_helper_maybe_connected(fb_helper)) {
+		DRM_INFO("No outputs connected, deferring setup\n");
+		fb_helper->preferred_bpp = bpp_sel;
+		fb_helper->deferred_setup = true;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	drm_setup_crtcs(fb_helper, width, height);
+	ret = drm_fb_helper_single_fb_probe(fb_helper, bpp_sel);
+	if (ret) {
+		mutex_unlock(&fb_helper->lock);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	fb_helper->deferred_setup = false;
+	mutex_unlock(&fb_helper->lock);
+
+	info = fb_helper->fbdev;
+	info->var.pixclock = 0;
+	ret = register_framebuffer(info);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return ret;
+
+	dev_info(dev->dev, "fb%d: %s frame buffer device\n",
+		 info->node, info->fix.id);
+
+	mutex_lock(&kernel_fb_helper_lock);
+	if (list_empty(&kernel_fb_helper_list))
+		register_sysrq_key('v', &sysrq_drm_fb_helper_restore_op);
+
+	list_add(&fb_helper->kernel_fb_list, &kernel_fb_helper_list);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /**
  * drm_fb_helper_initial_config - setup a sane initial connector configuration
  * @fb_helper: fb_helper device struct
@@ -2475,39 +2547,16 @@ static void drm_setup_crtcs(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
  */
 int drm_fb_helper_initial_config(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper, int bpp_sel)
 {
-	struct drm_device *dev = fb_helper->dev;
-	struct fb_info *info;
 	int ret;
 
 	if (!drm_fbdev_emulation)
 		return 0;
 
 	mutex_lock(&fb_helper->lock);
-	drm_setup_crtcs(fb_helper,
-			dev->mode_config.max_width,
-			dev->mode_config.max_height);
-	ret = drm_fb_helper_single_fb_probe(fb_helper, bpp_sel);
-	mutex_unlock(&fb_helper->lock);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
-
-	info = fb_helper->fbdev;
-	info->var.pixclock = 0;
-	ret = register_framebuffer(info);
-	if (ret < 0)
-		return ret;
-
-	dev_info(dev->dev, "fb%d: %s frame buffer device\n",
-		 info->node, info->fix.id);
-
-	mutex_lock(&kernel_fb_helper_lock);
-	if (list_empty(&kernel_fb_helper_list))
-		register_sysrq_key('v', &sysrq_drm_fb_helper_restore_op);
-
-	list_add(&fb_helper->kernel_fb_list, &kernel_fb_helper_list);
+	ret = __drm_fb_helper_initial_config(fb_helper, bpp_sel);
 	mutex_unlock(&kernel_fb_helper_lock);
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_fb_helper_initial_config);
 
@@ -2540,6 +2589,13 @@ int drm_fb_helper_hotplug_event(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper)
 		return 0;
 
 	mutex_lock(&fb_helper->lock);
+	if (fb_helper->deferred_setup) {
+		err = __drm_fb_helper_initial_config(fb_helper,
+						     fb_helper->preferred_bpp);
+		mutex_unlock(&fb_helper->lock);
+		return err;
+	}
+
 	if (!fb_helper->fb || !drm_fb_helper_is_bound(fb_helper)) {
 		fb_helper->delayed_hotplug = true;
 		mutex_unlock(&fb_helper->lock);
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h b/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h
index ea170b96e88d..a5ea6ffdfecc 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h
@@ -232,6 +232,29 @@ struct drm_fb_helper {
 	 * needs to be reprobe when fbdev is in control again.
 	 */
 	bool delayed_hotplug;
+
+	/**
+	 * @deferred_setup:
+	 *
+	 * If no outputs are connected (disconnected or unknown) the FB helper
+	 * code will defer setup until at least one of the outputs shows up.
+	 * This field keeps track of the status so that setup can be retried
+	 * at every hotplug event until it succeeds eventually.
+	 *
+	 * Protected by @lock.
+	 */
+	bool deferred_setup;
+
+	/**
+	 * @preferred_bpp:
+	 *
+	 * Temporary storage for the driver's preferred BPP setting passed to
+	 * FB helper initialization. This needs to be tracked so that deferred
+	 * FB helper setup can pass this on.
+	 *
+	 * See also: @deferred_setup
+	 */
+	int preferred_bpp;
 };
 
 /**
