diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_drv.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_drv.h
index 64a10fa..f69e9cb 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_drv.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_drv.h
@@ -2778,7 +2778,8 @@ static inline void i915_gem_object_unpin_pages(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj)
 
 int __must_check i915_mutex_lock_interruptible(struct drm_device *dev);
 int i915_gem_object_sync(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj,
-			 struct intel_engine_cs *to);
+			 struct intel_engine_cs *to,
+			 struct drm_i915_gem_request **to_req);
 void i915_vma_move_to_active(struct i915_vma *vma,
 			     struct intel_engine_cs *ring);
 int i915_gem_dumb_create(struct drm_file *file_priv,
@@ -2889,6 +2890,7 @@ int __must_check
 i915_gem_object_pin_to_display_plane(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj,
 				     u32 alignment,
 				     struct intel_engine_cs *pipelined,
+				     struct drm_i915_gem_request **pipelined_request,
 				     const struct i915_ggtt_view *view);
 void i915_gem_object_unpin_from_display_plane(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj,
 					      const struct i915_ggtt_view *view);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem.c
index b7d66aa..db90043 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem.c
@@ -3098,25 +3098,26 @@ out:
 static int
 __i915_gem_object_sync(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj,
 		       struct intel_engine_cs *to,
-		       struct drm_i915_gem_request *req)
+		       struct drm_i915_gem_request *from_req,
+		       struct drm_i915_gem_request **to_req)
 {
 	struct intel_engine_cs *from;
 	int ret;
 
-	from = i915_gem_request_get_ring(req);
+	from = i915_gem_request_get_ring(from_req);
 	if (to == from)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (i915_gem_request_completed(req, true))
+	if (i915_gem_request_completed(from_req, true))
 		return 0;
 
-	ret = i915_gem_check_olr(req);
+	ret = i915_gem_check_olr(from_req);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
 	if (!i915_semaphore_is_enabled(obj->base.dev)) {
 		struct drm_i915_private *i915 = to_i915(obj->base.dev);
-		ret = __i915_wait_request(req,
+		ret = __i915_wait_request(from_req,
 					  atomic_read(&i915->gpu_error.reset_counter),
 					  i915->mm.interruptible,
 					  NULL,
@@ -3124,15 +3125,25 @@ __i915_gem_object_sync(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj,
 		if (ret)
 			return ret;
 
-		i915_gem_object_retire_request(obj, req);
+		i915_gem_object_retire_request(obj, from_req);
 	} else {
 		int idx = intel_ring_sync_index(from, to);
-		u32 seqno = i915_gem_request_get_seqno(req);
+		u32 seqno = i915_gem_request_get_seqno(from_req);
 
+		WARN_ON(!to_req);
+
+		/* Optimization: Avoid semaphore sync when we are sure we already
+		 * waited for an object with higher seqno */
 		if (seqno <= from->semaphore.sync_seqno[idx])
 			return 0;
 
-		trace_i915_gem_ring_sync_to(from, to, req);
+		if (*to_req == NULL) {
+			ret = i915_gem_request_alloc(to, to->default_context, to_req);
+			if (ret)
+				return ret;
+		}
+
+		trace_i915_gem_ring_sync_to(from, to, from_req);
 		ret = to->semaphore.sync_to(to, from, seqno);
 		if (ret)
 			return ret;
@@ -3153,6 +3164,9 @@ __i915_gem_object_sync(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj,
  *
  * @obj: object which may be in use on another ring.
  * @to: ring we wish to use the object on. May be NULL.
+ * @to_req: request we wish to use the object for. See below.
+ *          This will be allocated and returned if a request is
+ *          required but not passed in.
  *
  * This code is meant to abstract object synchronization with the GPU.
  * Calling with NULL implies synchronizing the object with the CPU
@@ -3168,11 +3182,22 @@ __i915_gem_object_sync(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj,
  * - If we are a write request (pending_write_domain is set), the new
  *   request must wait for outstanding read requests to complete.
  *
+ * For CPU synchronisation (NULL to) no request is required. For syncing with
+ * rings to_req must be non-NULL. However, a request does not have to be
+ * pre-allocated. If *to_req is null and sync commands will be emitted then a
+ * request will be allocated automatically and returned through *to_req. Note
+ * that it is not guaranteed that commands will be emitted (because the
+ * might already be idle). Hence there is no need to create a request that
+ * might never have any work submitted. Note further that if a request is
+ * returned in *to_req, it is the responsibility of the caller to submit
+ * that request (after potentially adding more work to it).
+ *
  * Returns 0 if successful, else propagates up the lower layer error.
  */
 int
 i915_gem_object_sync(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj,
-		     struct intel_engine_cs *to)
+		     struct intel_engine_cs *to,
+		     struct drm_i915_gem_request **to_req)
 {
 	const bool readonly = obj->base.pending_write_domain == 0;
 	struct drm_i915_gem_request *req[I915_NUM_RINGS];
@@ -3194,7 +3219,7 @@ i915_gem_object_sync(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj,
 				req[n++] = obj->last_read_req[i];
 	}
 	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-		ret = __i915_gem_object_sync(obj, to, req[i]);
+		ret = __i915_gem_object_sync(obj, to, req[i], to_req);
 		if (ret)
 			return ret;
 	}
@@ -4144,12 +4169,13 @@ int
 i915_gem_object_pin_to_display_plane(struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj,
 				     u32 alignment,
 				     struct intel_engine_cs *pipelined,
+				     struct drm_i915_gem_request **pipelined_request,
 				     const struct i915_ggtt_view *view)
 {
 	u32 old_read_domains, old_write_domain;
 	int ret;
 
-	ret = i915_gem_object_sync(obj, pipelined);
+	ret = i915_gem_object_sync(obj, pipelined, pipelined_request);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem_execbuffer.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem_execbuffer.c
index 50b1ced..bea92ad 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem_execbuffer.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_gem_execbuffer.c
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ i915_gem_execbuffer_move_to_gpu(struct drm_i915_gem_request *req,
 		struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj = vma->obj;
 
 		if (obj->active & other_rings) {
-			ret = i915_gem_object_sync(obj, req->ring);
+			ret = i915_gem_object_sync(obj, req->ring, &req);
 			if (ret)
 				return ret;
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_display.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_display.c
index 657a333..6528ada 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_display.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_display.c
@@ -2338,7 +2338,8 @@ int
 intel_pin_and_fence_fb_obj(struct drm_plane *plane,
 			   struct drm_framebuffer *fb,
 			   const struct drm_plane_state *plane_state,
-			   struct intel_engine_cs *pipelined)
+			   struct intel_engine_cs *pipelined,
+			   struct drm_i915_gem_request **pipelined_request)
 {
 	struct drm_device *dev = fb->dev;
 	struct drm_i915_private *dev_priv = dev->dev_private;
@@ -2403,7 +2404,7 @@ intel_pin_and_fence_fb_obj(struct drm_plane *plane,
 
 	dev_priv->mm.interruptible = false;
 	ret = i915_gem_object_pin_to_display_plane(obj, alignment, pipelined,
-						   &view);
+						   pipelined_request, &view);
 	if (ret)
 		goto err_interruptible;
 
@@ -11119,6 +11120,7 @@ static int intel_crtc_page_flip(struct drm_crtc *crtc,
 	struct intel_unpin_work *work;
 	struct intel_engine_cs *ring;
 	bool mmio_flip;
+	struct drm_i915_gem_request *request = NULL;
 	int ret;
 
 	/*
@@ -11225,7 +11227,7 @@ static int intel_crtc_page_flip(struct drm_crtc *crtc,
 	 */
 	ret = intel_pin_and_fence_fb_obj(crtc->primary, fb,
 					 crtc->primary->state,
-					 mmio_flip ? i915_gem_request_get_ring(obj->last_write_req) : ring);
+					 mmio_flip ? i915_gem_request_get_ring(obj->last_write_req) : ring, &request);
 	if (ret)
 		goto cleanup_pending;
 
@@ -11256,6 +11258,9 @@ static int intel_crtc_page_flip(struct drm_crtc *crtc,
 					intel_ring_get_request(ring));
 	}
 
+	if (request)
+		i915_add_request_no_flush(request->ring);
+
 	work->flip_queued_vblank = drm_crtc_vblank_count(crtc);
 	work->enable_stall_check = true;
 
@@ -11273,6 +11278,8 @@ static int intel_crtc_page_flip(struct drm_crtc *crtc,
 cleanup_unpin:
 	intel_unpin_fb_obj(fb, crtc->primary->state);
 cleanup_pending:
+	if (request)
+		i915_gem_request_cancel(request);
 	atomic_dec(&intel_crtc->unpin_work_count);
 	mutex_unlock(&dev->struct_mutex);
 cleanup:
@@ -13171,7 +13178,7 @@ intel_prepare_plane_fb(struct drm_plane *plane,
 		if (ret)
 			DRM_DEBUG_KMS("failed to attach phys object\n");
 	} else {
-		ret = intel_pin_and_fence_fb_obj(plane, fb, new_state, NULL);
+		ret = intel_pin_and_fence_fb_obj(plane, fb, new_state, NULL, NULL);
 	}
 
 	if (ret == 0)
@@ -15218,7 +15225,7 @@ void intel_modeset_gem_init(struct drm_device *dev)
 		ret = intel_pin_and_fence_fb_obj(c->primary,
 						 c->primary->fb,
 						 c->primary->state,
-						 NULL);
+						 NULL, NULL);
 		mutex_unlock(&dev->struct_mutex);
 		if (ret) {
 			DRM_ERROR("failed to pin boot fb on pipe %d\n",
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_drv.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_drv.h
index 02d8317..73650ae 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_drv.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_drv.h
@@ -1034,7 +1034,8 @@ void intel_release_load_detect_pipe(struct drm_connector *connector,
 int intel_pin_and_fence_fb_obj(struct drm_plane *plane,
 			       struct drm_framebuffer *fb,
 			       const struct drm_plane_state *plane_state,
-			       struct intel_engine_cs *pipelined);
+			       struct intel_engine_cs *pipelined,
+			       struct drm_i915_gem_request **pipelined_request);
 struct drm_framebuffer *
 __intel_framebuffer_create(struct drm_device *dev,
 			   struct drm_mode_fb_cmd2 *mode_cmd,
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c
index 4e7e7da..dd9f3b2 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ static int intelfb_alloc(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	}
 
 	/* Flush everything out, we'll be doing GTT only from now on */
-	ret = intel_pin_and_fence_fb_obj(NULL, fb, NULL, NULL);
+	ret = intel_pin_and_fence_fb_obj(NULL, fb, NULL, NULL, NULL);
 	if (ret) {
 		DRM_ERROR("failed to pin obj: %d\n", ret);
 		goto out_fb;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_lrc.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_lrc.c
index 6d005b1..f8e8fdb 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_lrc.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_lrc.c
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ static int execlists_move_to_gpu(struct drm_i915_gem_request *req,
 		struct drm_i915_gem_object *obj = vma->obj;
 
 		if (obj->active & other_rings) {
-			ret = i915_gem_object_sync(obj, req->ring);
+			ret = i915_gem_object_sync(obj, req->ring, &req);
 			if (ret)
 				return ret;
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_overlay.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_overlay.c
index e7534b9..0f8187a 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_overlay.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_overlay.c
@@ -724,7 +724,7 @@ static int intel_overlay_do_put_image(struct intel_overlay *overlay,
 	if (ret != 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	ret = i915_gem_object_pin_to_display_plane(new_bo, 0, NULL,
+	ret = i915_gem_object_pin_to_display_plane(new_bo, 0, NULL, NULL,
 						   &i915_ggtt_view_normal);
 	if (ret != 0)
 		return ret;
