diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu_fb.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu_fb.c
index 838943d0962e..f4a2f1f0a6ca 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu_fb.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu_fb.c
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ static int amdgpufb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	info = drm_fb_helper_alloc_fbi(helper);
 	if (IS_ERR(info)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(info);
-		goto out_unref;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	info->par = rfbdev;
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ static int amdgpufb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	ret = amdgpu_framebuffer_init(adev->ddev, &rfbdev->rfb, &mode_cmd, gobj);
 	if (ret) {
 		DRM_ERROR("failed to initialize framebuffer %d\n", ret);
-		goto out_destroy_fbi;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	fb = &rfbdev->rfb.base;
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ static int amdgpufb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 
 	if (info->screen_base == NULL) {
 		ret = -ENOSPC;
-		goto out_destroy_fbi;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	DRM_INFO("fb mappable at 0x%lX\n",  info->fix.smem_start);
@@ -278,9 +278,7 @@ static int amdgpufb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	vga_switcheroo_client_fb_set(adev->ddev->pdev, info);
 	return 0;
 
-out_destroy_fbi:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
-out_unref:
+out:
 	if (abo) {
 
 	}
@@ -304,7 +302,6 @@ static int amdgpu_fbdev_destroy(struct drm_device *dev, struct amdgpu_fbdev *rfb
 	struct amdgpu_framebuffer *rfb = &rfbdev->rfb;
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&rfbdev->helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&rfbdev->helper);
 
 	if (rfb->obj) {
 		amdgpufb_destroy_pinned_object(rfb->obj);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/armada/armada_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/armada/armada_fbdev.c
index 78335100cbc3..7f184a52594e 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/armada/armada_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/armada/armada_fbdev.c
@@ -157,7 +157,6 @@ int armada_fbdev_init(struct drm_device *dev)
 
 	return 0;
  err_fb_setup:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(fbh);
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(fbh);
  err_fb_helper:
 	priv->fbdev = NULL;
@@ -179,7 +178,6 @@ void armada_fbdev_fini(struct drm_device *dev)
 
 	if (fbh) {
 		drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(fbh);
-		drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(fbh);
 
 		drm_fb_helper_fini(fbh);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/ast/ast_fb.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/ast/ast_fb.c
index b085140fae95..f8421d23946a 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/ast/ast_fb.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/ast/ast_fb.c
@@ -215,13 +215,13 @@ static int astfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	info = drm_fb_helper_alloc_fbi(helper);
 	if (IS_ERR(info)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(info);
-		goto err_free_vram;
+		goto out;
 	}
 	info->par = afbdev;
 
 	ret = ast_framebuffer_init(dev, &afbdev->afb, &mode_cmd, gobj);
 	if (ret)
-		goto err_release_fbi;
+		goto out;
 
 	afbdev->sysram = sysram;
 	afbdev->size = size;
@@ -250,9 +250,7 @@ static int astfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 
 	return 0;
 
-err_release_fbi:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
-err_free_vram:
+out:
 	vfree(sysram);
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -287,7 +285,6 @@ static void ast_fbdev_destroy(struct drm_device *dev,
 	struct ast_framebuffer *afb = &afbdev->afb;
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&afbdev->helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&afbdev->helper);
 
 	if (afb->obj) {
 		drm_gem_object_unreference_unlocked(afb->obj);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/bochs/bochs_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/bochs/bochs_fbdev.c
index 0317c3df6a22..d9821e6d2c3c 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/bochs/bochs_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/bochs/bochs_fbdev.c
@@ -107,10 +107,8 @@ static int bochsfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	info->par = &bochs->fb.helper;
 
 	ret = bochs_framebuffer_init(bochs->dev, &bochs->fb.gfb, &mode_cmd, gobj);
-	if (ret) {
-		drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
+	if (ret)
 		return ret;
-	}
 
 	bochs->fb.size = size;
 
@@ -144,7 +142,6 @@ static int bochs_fbdev_destroy(struct bochs_device *bochs)
 	DRM_DEBUG_DRIVER("\n");
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&bochs->fb.helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&bochs->fb.helper);
 
 	if (gfb->obj) {
 		drm_gem_object_unreference_unlocked(gfb->obj);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/cirrus/cirrus_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/cirrus/cirrus_fbdev.c
index 79a5cd108245..606da15955fa 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/cirrus/cirrus_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/cirrus/cirrus_fbdev.c
@@ -250,7 +250,6 @@ static int cirrus_fbdev_destroy(struct drm_device *dev,
 	struct cirrus_framebuffer *gfb = &gfbdev->gfb;
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&gfbdev->helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&gfbdev->helper);
 
 	if (gfb->obj) {
 		drm_gem_object_unreference_unlocked(gfb->obj);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_cma_helper.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_cma_helper.c
index 0ef8b284a4b8..45df245b79a0 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_cma_helper.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_cma_helper.c
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ drm_fbdev_cma_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 err_cma_destroy:
 	drm_framebuffer_remove(&fbdev_cma->fb->fb);
 err_fb_info_destroy:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
+	drm_fb_helper_fini(helper);
 err_gem_free_object:
 	drm_gem_object_unreference_unlocked(&obj->base);
 	return ret;
@@ -571,7 +571,6 @@ void drm_fbdev_cma_fini(struct drm_fbdev_cma *fbdev_cma)
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&fbdev_cma->fb_helper);
 	if (fbdev_cma->fb_helper.fbdev)
 		drm_fbdev_cma_defio_fini(fbdev_cma->fb_helper.fbdev);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&fbdev_cma->fb_helper);
 
 	if (fbdev_cma->fb)
 		drm_framebuffer_remove(&fbdev_cma->fb->fb);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
index 5220a7b5e6ff..c2460092375e 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
@@ -781,7 +781,9 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_fb_helper_init);
  * @fb_helper: driver-allocated fbdev helper
  *
  * A helper to alloc fb_info and the members cmap and apertures. Called
- * by the driver within the fb_probe fb_helper callback function.
+ * by the driver within the fb_probe fb_helper callback function. Drivers do not
+ * need to release the allocated fb_info structure themselves, this is
+ * automatically done when calling drm_fb_helper_fini().
  *
  * RETURNS:
  * fb_info pointer if things went okay, pointer containing error code
@@ -835,29 +837,6 @@ void drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper)
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi);
 
 /**
- * drm_fb_helper_release_fbi - dealloc fb_info and its members
- * @fb_helper: driver-allocated fbdev helper
- *
- * A helper to free memory taken by fb_info and the members cmap and
- * apertures
- */
-void drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper)
-{
-	if (fb_helper) {
-		struct fb_info *info = fb_helper->fbdev;
-
-		if (info) {
-			if (info->cmap.len)
-				fb_dealloc_cmap(&info->cmap);
-			framebuffer_release(info);
-		}
-
-		fb_helper->fbdev = NULL;
-	}
-}
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_fb_helper_release_fbi);
-
-/**
  * drm_fb_helper_fini - finialize a &struct drm_fb_helper
  * @fb_helper: driver-allocated fbdev helper
  *
@@ -866,9 +845,19 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_fb_helper_release_fbi);
  */
 void drm_fb_helper_fini(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper)
 {
-	if (!drm_fbdev_emulation)
+	struct fb_info *info;
+
+	if (!drm_fbdev_emulation || !fb_helper)
 		return;
 
+	info = fb_helper->fbdev;
+	if (info) {
+		if (info->cmap.len)
+			fb_dealloc_cmap(&info->cmap);
+		framebuffer_release(info);
+	}
+	fb_helper->fbdev = NULL;
+
 	mutex_lock(&kernel_fb_helper_lock);
 	if (!list_empty(&fb_helper->kernel_fb_list)) {
 		list_del(&fb_helper->kernel_fb_list);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_fbdev.c
index a7884bea42eb..36933eb63d19 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_fbdev.c
@@ -99,7 +99,6 @@ static int exynos_drm_fbdev_update(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 				VM_MAP, pgprot_writecombine(PAGE_KERNEL));
 	if (!exynos_gem->kvaddr) {
 		DRM_ERROR("failed to map pages to kernel space.\n");
-		drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
 		return -EIO;
 	}
 
@@ -275,7 +274,6 @@ static void exynos_drm_fbdev_destroy(struct drm_device *dev,
 	}
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(fb_helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(fb_helper);
 
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(fb_helper);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/gma500/framebuffer.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/gma500/framebuffer.c
index fd1488bf5189..1b45075fc7b0 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/gma500/framebuffer.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/gma500/framebuffer.c
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ static int psbfb_create(struct psb_fbdev *fbdev,
 	info = drm_fb_helper_alloc_fbi(&fbdev->psb_fb_helper);
 	if (IS_ERR(info)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(info);
-		goto err_free_range;
+		goto out;
 	}
 	info->par = fbdev;
 
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ static int psbfb_create(struct psb_fbdev *fbdev,
 
 	ret = psb_framebuffer_init(dev, psbfb, &mode_cmd, backing);
 	if (ret)
-		goto err_release;
+		goto out;
 
 	fb = &psbfb->base;
 	psbfb->fbdev = info;
@@ -445,9 +445,7 @@ static int psbfb_create(struct psb_fbdev *fbdev,
 					psbfb->base.width, psbfb->base.height);
 
 	return 0;
-err_release:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&fbdev->psb_fb_helper);
-err_free_range:
+out:
 	psb_gtt_free_range(dev, backing);
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -536,7 +534,6 @@ static int psb_fbdev_destroy(struct drm_device *dev, struct psb_fbdev *fbdev)
 	struct psb_framebuffer *psbfb = &fbdev->pfb;
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&fbdev->psb_fb_helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&fbdev->psb_fb_helper);
 
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(&fbdev->psb_fb_helper);
 	drm_framebuffer_unregister_private(&psbfb->base);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/hisilicon/hibmc/hibmc_drm_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/hisilicon/hibmc/hibmc_drm_fbdev.c
index 16fe79053ee1..7ffc1c593ae1 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/hisilicon/hibmc/hibmc_drm_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/hisilicon/hibmc/hibmc_drm_fbdev.c
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@ static int hibmc_drm_fb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	return 0;
 
 out_release_fbi:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
 	ret1 = ttm_bo_reserve(&bo->bo, true, false, NULL);
 	if (ret1) {
 		DRM_ERROR("failed to rsv ttm_bo when release fbi: %d\n", ret1);
@@ -170,7 +169,6 @@ static void hibmc_fbdev_destroy(struct hibmc_fbdev *fbdev)
 	struct drm_fb_helper *fbh = &fbdev->helper;
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(fbh);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(fbh);
 
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(fbh);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c
index e0d9e72cf3d1..8ea2bd85a474 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_fbdev.c
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ static int intelfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	if (IS_ERR(vaddr)) {
 		DRM_ERROR("Failed to remap framebuffer into virtual memory\n");
 		ret = PTR_ERR(vaddr);
-		goto out_destroy_fbi;
+		goto out_unpin;
 	}
 	info->screen_base = vaddr;
 	info->screen_size = vma->node.size;
@@ -281,8 +281,6 @@ static int intelfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	vga_switcheroo_client_fb_set(pdev, info);
 	return 0;
 
-out_destroy_fbi:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
 out_unpin:
 	intel_unpin_fb_vma(vma);
 out_unlock:
@@ -543,7 +541,6 @@ static void intel_fbdev_destroy(struct intel_fbdev *ifbdev)
 	 */
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&ifbdev->helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&ifbdev->helper);
 
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(&ifbdev->helper);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/mgag200/mgag200_fb.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/mgag200/mgag200_fb.c
index 1a665e1671b8..320b0d33c380 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/mgag200/mgag200_fb.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/mgag200/mgag200_fb.c
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ static int mgag200fb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 
 	ret = mgag200_framebuffer_init(dev, &mfbdev->mfb, &mode_cmd, gobj);
 	if (ret)
-		goto err_framebuffer_init;
+		goto err_alloc_fbi;
 
 	mfbdev->sysram = sysram;
 	mfbdev->size = size;
@@ -230,8 +230,6 @@ static int mgag200fb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 
 	return 0;
 
-err_framebuffer_init:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
 err_alloc_fbi:
 	vfree(sysram);
 err_sysram:
@@ -246,7 +244,6 @@ static int mga_fbdev_destroy(struct drm_device *dev,
 	struct mga_framebuffer *mfb = &mfbdev->mfb;
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&mfbdev->helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&mfbdev->helper);
 
 	if (mfb->obj) {
 		drm_gem_object_unreference_unlocked(mfb->obj);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/msm_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/msm_fbdev.c
index f8a587eac6b8..a7d9b8e3f8ca 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/msm_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/msm_fbdev.c
@@ -236,7 +236,6 @@ void msm_fbdev_free(struct drm_device *dev)
 	DBG();
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
 
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(helper);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_fbcon.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_fbcon.c
index c699d7784da2..3c8f8dd89239 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_fbcon.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_fbcon.c
@@ -444,7 +444,6 @@ nouveau_fbcon_destroy(struct drm_device *dev, struct nouveau_fbdev *fbcon)
 	struct nouveau_framebuffer *nouveau_fb = nouveau_framebuffer(fbcon->helper.fb);
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&fbcon->helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&fbcon->helper);
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(&fbcon->helper);
 
 	if (nouveau_fb->nvbo) {
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
index 2a839956dae6..2c9e2f36a9d2 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
@@ -222,9 +222,6 @@ static int omap_fbdev_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 fail:
 
 	if (ret) {
-
-		drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
-
 		if (fb)
 			drm_framebuffer_remove(fb);
 	}
@@ -302,7 +299,6 @@ void omap_fbdev_free(struct drm_device *dev)
 	DBG();
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
 
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(helper);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/qxl/qxl_fb.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/qxl/qxl_fb.c
index e6ade6aab54c..a0f55750e2d3 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/qxl/qxl_fb.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/qxl/qxl_fb.c
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ static int qxlfb_create(struct qxl_fbdev *qfbdev,
 
 	if (info->screen_base == NULL) {
 		ret = -ENOSPC;
-		goto out_destroy_fbi;
+		goto out_unref;
 	}
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_DRM_FBDEV_EMULATION
@@ -320,8 +320,6 @@ static int qxlfb_create(struct qxl_fbdev *qfbdev,
 		 fb->format->depth, fb->pitches[0], fb->width, fb->height);
 	return 0;
 
-out_destroy_fbi:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&qfbdev->helper);
 out_unref:
 	if (qbo) {
 		ret = qxl_bo_reserve(qbo, false);
@@ -363,7 +361,6 @@ static int qxl_fbdev_destroy(struct drm_device *dev, struct qxl_fbdev *qfbdev)
 	struct qxl_framebuffer *qfb = &qfbdev->qfb;
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&qfbdev->helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&qfbdev->helper);
 
 	if (qfb->obj) {
 		qxlfb_destroy_pinned_object(qfb->obj);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_fb.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_fb.c
index 6c10a83f3362..615cf965ee7f 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_fb.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_fb.c
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ static int radeonfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	info = drm_fb_helper_alloc_fbi(helper);
 	if (IS_ERR(info)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(info);
-		goto out_unref;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	info->par = rfbdev;
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ static int radeonfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	ret = radeon_framebuffer_init(rdev->ddev, &rfbdev->rfb, &mode_cmd, gobj);
 	if (ret) {
 		DRM_ERROR("failed to initialize framebuffer %d\n", ret);
-		goto out_destroy_fbi;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	fb = &rfbdev->rfb.base;
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ static int radeonfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 
 	if (info->screen_base == NULL) {
 		ret = -ENOSPC;
-		goto out_destroy_fbi;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	DRM_INFO("fb mappable at 0x%lX\n",  info->fix.smem_start);
@@ -296,9 +296,7 @@ static int radeonfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	vga_switcheroo_client_fb_set(rdev->ddev->pdev, info);
 	return 0;
 
-out_destroy_fbi:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
-out_unref:
+out:
 	if (rbo) {
 
 	}
@@ -322,7 +320,6 @@ static int radeon_fbdev_destroy(struct drm_device *dev, struct radeon_fbdev *rfb
 	struct radeon_framebuffer *rfb = &rfbdev->rfb;
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&rfbdev->helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&rfbdev->helper);
 
 	if (rfb->obj) {
 		radeonfb_destroy_pinned_object(rfb->obj);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/rockchip/rockchip_drm_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/rockchip/rockchip_drm_fbdev.c
index 52d1fdf9f9da..9d409caac2b7 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/rockchip/rockchip_drm_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/rockchip/rockchip_drm_fbdev.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ static int rockchip_drm_fbdev_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	if (IS_ERR(fbi)) {
 		dev_err(dev->dev, "Failed to create framebuffer info.\n");
 		ret = PTR_ERR(fbi);
-		goto err_rockchip_gem_free_object;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	helper->fb = rockchip_drm_framebuffer_init(dev, &mode_cmd,
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ static int rockchip_drm_fbdev_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	if (IS_ERR(helper->fb)) {
 		dev_err(dev->dev, "Failed to allocate DRM framebuffer.\n");
 		ret = PTR_ERR(helper->fb);
-		goto err_release_fbi;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	fbi->par = helper;
@@ -114,9 +114,7 @@ static int rockchip_drm_fbdev_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 
 	return 0;
 
-err_release_fbi:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
-err_rockchip_gem_free_object:
+out:
 	rockchip_gem_free_object(&rk_obj->base);
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -176,7 +174,6 @@ void rockchip_drm_fbdev_fini(struct drm_device *dev)
 	helper = &private->fbdev_helper;
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
 
 	if (helper->fb)
 		drm_framebuffer_unreference(helper->fb);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/tegra/fb.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/tegra/fb.c
index f896e2ff7d47..28ff30cb7b0f 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/tegra/fb.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/tegra/fb.c
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ static int tegra_fbdev_probe(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 		dev_err(drm->dev, "failed to allocate DRM framebuffer: %d\n",
 			err);
 		drm_gem_object_unreference_unlocked(&bo->gem);
-		goto release;
+		return PTR_ERR(fbdev->fb);
 	}
 
 	fb = &fbdev->fb->base;
@@ -272,8 +272,6 @@ static int tegra_fbdev_probe(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 
 destroy:
 	drm_framebuffer_remove(fb);
-release:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -339,7 +337,6 @@ static int tegra_fbdev_init(struct tegra_fbdev *fbdev,
 static void tegra_fbdev_exit(struct tegra_fbdev *fbdev)
 {
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&fbdev->base);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&fbdev->base);
 
 	if (fbdev->fb)
 		drm_framebuffer_remove(&fbdev->fb->base);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/udl/udl_fb.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/udl/udl_fb.c
index b8dc06d68777..063743ad09be 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/udl/udl_fb.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/udl/udl_fb.c
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ static int udlfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 
 	ret = udl_framebuffer_init(dev, &ufbdev->ufb, &mode_cmd, obj);
 	if (ret)
-		goto out_destroy_fbi;
+		goto out_gfree;
 
 	fb = &ufbdev->ufb.base;
 
@@ -403,8 +403,6 @@ static int udlfb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 		      ufbdev->ufb.obj->vmapping);
 
 	return ret;
-out_destroy_fbi:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
 out_gfree:
 	drm_gem_object_unreference_unlocked(&ufbdev->ufb.obj->base);
 out:
@@ -419,7 +417,6 @@ static void udl_fbdev_destroy(struct drm_device *dev,
 			      struct udl_fbdev *ufbdev)
 {
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&ufbdev->helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&ufbdev->helper);
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(&ufbdev->helper);
 	drm_framebuffer_unregister_private(&ufbdev->ufb.base);
 	drm_framebuffer_cleanup(&ufbdev->ufb.base);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/virtio/virtgpu_fb.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/virtio/virtgpu_fb.c
index 24f99fc9d8a4..a7990c745497 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/virtio/virtgpu_fb.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/virtio/virtgpu_fb.c
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ static int virtio_gpufb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	ret = virtio_gpu_framebuffer_init(dev, &vfbdev->vgfb,
 					  &mode_cmd, &obj->gem_base);
 	if (ret)
-		goto err_fb_init;
+		goto err_fb_alloc;
 
 	fb = &vfbdev->vgfb.base;
 
@@ -341,8 +341,6 @@ static int virtio_gpufb_create(struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
 	info->fix.mmio_len = 0;
 	return 0;
 
-err_fb_init:
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(helper);
 err_fb_alloc:
 	virtio_gpu_cmd_resource_inval_backing(vgdev, resid);
 err_obj_attach:
@@ -357,7 +355,6 @@ static int virtio_gpu_fbdev_destroy(struct drm_device *dev,
 	struct virtio_gpu_framebuffer *vgfb = &vgfbdev->vgfb;
 
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(&vgfbdev->helper);
-	drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(&vgfbdev->helper);
 
 	if (vgfb->obj)
 		vgfb->obj = NULL;
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h b/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h
index e62e1cf22678..7d5d0dba10fc 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h
@@ -250,7 +250,6 @@ int drm_fb_helper_restore_fbdev_mode_unlocked(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper);
 
 struct fb_info *drm_fb_helper_alloc_fbi(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper);
 void drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper);
-void drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper);
 void drm_fb_helper_fill_var(struct fb_info *info, struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
 			    uint32_t fb_width, uint32_t fb_height);
 void drm_fb_helper_fill_fix(struct fb_info *info, uint32_t pitch,
@@ -355,9 +354,6 @@ drm_fb_helper_alloc_fbi(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper)
 static inline void drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper)
 {
 }
-static inline void drm_fb_helper_release_fbi(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper)
-{
-}
 
 static inline void drm_fb_helper_fill_var(struct fb_info *info,
 					  struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
