diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.c
index 9292b6ca5e9c..bc20161bab9f 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.c
@@ -162,18 +162,8 @@ static int __intel_context_active(struct i915_active *active)
 	if (err)
 		goto err_ring;
 
-	/* Preallocate tracking nodes */
-	if (!i915_gem_context_is_kernel(ce->gem_context)) {
-		err = i915_active_acquire_preallocate_barrier(&ce->active,
-							      ce->engine);
-		if (err)
-			goto err_state;
-	}
-
 	return 0;
 
-err_state:
-	__context_unpin_state(ce->state);
 err_ring:
 	intel_ring_unpin(ce->ring);
 err_put:
@@ -181,6 +171,34 @@ static int __intel_context_active(struct i915_active *active)
 	return err;
 }
 
+int intel_context_active_acquire(struct intel_context *ce)
+{
+	int err;
+
+	err = i915_active_acquire(&ce->active);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	/* Preallocate tracking nodes */
+	if (ce->state && !i915_gem_context_is_kernel(ce->gem_context)) {
+		err = i915_active_acquire_preallocate_barrier(&ce->active,
+							      ce->engine);
+		if (err) {
+			i915_active_release(&ce->active);
+			return err;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void intel_context_active_release(struct intel_context *ce)
+{
+	/* Nodes preallocated in intel_context_active() */
+	i915_active_acquire_barrier(&ce->active);
+	i915_active_release(&ce->active);
+}
+
 void
 intel_context_init(struct intel_context *ce,
 		   struct i915_gem_context *ctx,
@@ -284,3 +302,7 @@ struct i915_request *intel_context_create_request(struct intel_context *ce)
 
 	return rq;
 }
+
+#if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_DRM_I915_SELFTEST)
+#include "selftest_context.c"
+#endif
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.h
index 23c7e4c0ce7c..07f9924de48f 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.h
@@ -104,17 +104,8 @@ static inline void intel_context_exit(struct intel_context *ce)
 		ce->ops->exit(ce);
 }
 
-static inline int intel_context_active_acquire(struct intel_context *ce)
-{
-	return i915_active_acquire(&ce->active);
-}
-
-static inline void intel_context_active_release(struct intel_context *ce)
-{
-	/* Nodes preallocated in intel_context_active() */
-	i915_active_acquire_barrier(&ce->active);
-	i915_active_release(&ce->active);
-}
+int intel_context_active_acquire(struct intel_context *ce);
+void intel_context_active_release(struct intel_context *ce);
 
 static inline struct intel_context *intel_context_get(struct intel_context *ce)
 {
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_context.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_context.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4d251faafcc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_context.c
@@ -0,0 +1,321 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+ *
+ * Copyright © 2019 Intel Corporation
+ */
+
+#include "i915_selftest.h"
+#include "intel_gt.h"
+
+#include "gem/selftests/mock_context.h"
+#include "selftests/igt_flush_test.h"
+#include "selftests/mock_drm.h"
+
+static int request_sync(struct i915_request *rq)
+{
+	long timeout;
+	int err = 0;
+
+	i915_request_get(rq);
+
+	i915_request_add(rq);
+	timeout = i915_request_wait(rq, 0, HZ / 10);
+	if (timeout < 0)
+		err = timeout;
+	else
+		i915_request_retire_upto(rq);
+
+	i915_request_put(rq);
+
+	return err;
+}
+
+static int context_sync(struct intel_context *ce)
+{
+	struct intel_timeline *tl = ce->ring->timeline;
+	int err = 0;
+
+	do {
+		struct i915_request *rq;
+		long timeout;
+
+		rcu_read_lock();
+		rq = rcu_dereference(tl->last_request.request);
+		if (rq)
+			rq = i915_request_get_rcu(rq);
+		rcu_read_unlock();
+		if (!rq)
+			break;
+
+		timeout = i915_request_wait(rq, 0, HZ / 10);
+		if (timeout < 0)
+			err = timeout;
+		else
+			i915_request_retire_upto(rq);
+
+		i915_request_put(rq);
+	} while (!err);
+
+	return err;
+}
+
+static int __live_active_context(struct intel_engine_cs *engine,
+				 struct i915_gem_context *fixme)
+{
+	struct intel_context *ce;
+	int pass;
+	int err;
+
+	/*
+	 * We keep active contexts alive until after a subsequent context
+	 * switch as the final write from the context-save will be after
+	 * we retire the final request. We track when we unpin the context,
+	 * under the presumption that the final pin is from the last request,
+	 * and instead of immediately unpinning the context, we add a task
+	 * to unpin the context from the next idle-barrier.
+	 *
+	 * This test makes sure that the context is kept alive until a
+	 * subsequent idle-barrier (emitted when the engine wakeref hits 0
+	 * with no more outstanding requests).
+	 */
+
+	if (intel_engine_pm_is_awake(engine)) {
+		pr_err("%s is awake before starting %s!\n",
+		       engine->name, __func__);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	ce = intel_context_create(fixme, engine);
+	if (!ce)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	for (pass = 0; pass <= 2; pass++) {
+		struct i915_request *rq;
+
+		rq = intel_context_create_request(ce);
+		if (IS_ERR(rq)) {
+			err = PTR_ERR(rq);
+			goto err;
+		}
+
+		err = request_sync(rq);
+		if (err)
+			goto err;
+
+		/* Context will be kept active until after an idle-barrier. */
+		if (i915_active_is_idle(&ce->active)) {
+			pr_err("context is not active; expected idle-barrier (pass %d)\n", pass);
+			err = -EINVAL;
+			goto err;
+		}
+
+		if (!intel_engine_pm_is_awake(engine)) {
+			pr_err("%s is asleep before idle-barrier %s!\n",
+			       engine->name, __func__);
+			err = -EINVAL;
+			goto err;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* Now make sure our idle-barriers are flushed */
+	err = context_sync(engine->kernel_context);
+	if (err)
+		goto err;
+
+	if (!i915_active_is_idle(&ce->active)) {
+		pr_err("context is still active!");
+		err = -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	if (intel_engine_pm_is_awake(engine)) {
+		struct drm_printer p = drm_debug_printer(__func__);
+
+		intel_engine_dump(engine, &p,
+				  "%s is still awake after idle-barriers\n",
+				  engine->name);
+		GEM_TRACE_DUMP();
+
+		err = -EINVAL;
+		goto err;
+	}
+
+err:
+	intel_context_put(ce);
+	return err;
+}
+
+static int live_active_context(void *arg)
+{
+	struct intel_gt *gt = arg;
+	struct intel_engine_cs *engine;
+	struct i915_gem_context *fixme;
+	enum intel_engine_id id;
+	struct drm_file *file;
+	int err = 0;
+
+	file = mock_file(gt->i915);
+	if (IS_ERR(file))
+		return PTR_ERR(file);
+
+	mutex_lock(&gt->i915->drm.struct_mutex);
+
+	fixme = live_context(gt->i915, file);
+	if (!fixme) {
+		err = -ENOMEM;
+		goto unlock;
+	}
+
+	for_each_engine(engine, gt->i915, id) {
+		err = __live_active_context(engine, fixme);
+		if (err)
+			break;
+
+		err = igt_flush_test(gt->i915, I915_WAIT_LOCKED);
+		if (err)
+			break;
+	}
+
+unlock:
+	mutex_unlock(&gt->i915->drm.struct_mutex);
+	mock_file_free(gt->i915, file);
+	return err;
+}
+
+static int __live_remote_context(struct intel_engine_cs *engine,
+				 struct i915_gem_context *fixme)
+{
+	struct intel_context *local, *remote;
+	struct i915_request *rq;
+	int pass;
+	int err;
+
+	/*
+	 * Check that our idle barriers do not interfere with normal
+	 * activity tracking. In particular, check that operating
+	 * on the context image remotely (intel_context_prepare_remote_request)
+	 * which inserts foriegn fences into intel_context.active are not
+	 * clobbered.
+	 */
+
+	remote = intel_context_create(fixme, engine);
+	if (!remote)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	local = intel_context_create(fixme, engine);
+	if (!local) {
+		err = -ENOMEM;
+		goto err_remote;
+	}
+
+	for (pass = 0; pass <= 2; pass++) {
+		err = intel_context_pin(remote);
+		if (err)
+			goto err_local;
+
+		rq = intel_context_create_request(local);
+		if (IS_ERR(rq)) {
+			err = PTR_ERR(rq);
+			goto err_unpin;
+		}
+
+		err = intel_context_prepare_remote_request(remote, rq);
+		if (err) {
+			i915_request_add(rq);
+			goto err_unpin;
+		}
+
+		err = request_sync(rq);
+		if (err)
+			goto err_unpin;
+
+		intel_context_unpin(remote);
+		err = intel_context_pin(remote);
+		if (err)
+			goto err_local;
+
+		rq = i915_request_create(engine->kernel_context);
+		if (IS_ERR(rq)) {
+			err = PTR_ERR(rq);
+			goto err_unpin;
+		}
+
+		err = intel_context_prepare_remote_request(remote, rq);
+		if (err) {
+			i915_request_add(rq);
+			goto err_unpin;
+		}
+
+		err = request_sync(rq);
+		if (err)
+			goto err_unpin;
+
+		intel_context_unpin(remote);
+
+		if (i915_active_is_idle(&remote->active)) {
+			pr_err("remote context is not active; expected idle-barrier (pass %d)\n", pass);
+			err = -EINVAL;
+			goto err_local;
+		}
+	}
+
+	goto err_local;
+
+err_unpin:
+	intel_context_unpin(remote);
+err_local:
+	intel_context_put(local);
+err_remote:
+	intel_context_put(remote);
+	return err;
+}
+
+static int live_remote_context(void *arg)
+{
+	struct intel_gt *gt = arg;
+	struct intel_engine_cs *engine;
+	struct i915_gem_context *fixme;
+	enum intel_engine_id id;
+	struct drm_file *file;
+	int err = 0;
+
+	file = mock_file(gt->i915);
+	if (IS_ERR(file))
+		return PTR_ERR(file);
+
+	mutex_lock(&gt->i915->drm.struct_mutex);
+
+	fixme = live_context(gt->i915, file);
+	if (!fixme) {
+		err = -ENOMEM;
+		goto unlock;
+	}
+
+	for_each_engine(engine, gt->i915, id) {
+		err = __live_remote_context(engine, fixme);
+		if (err)
+			break;
+
+		err = igt_flush_test(gt->i915, I915_WAIT_LOCKED);
+		if (err)
+			break;
+	}
+
+unlock:
+	mutex_unlock(&gt->i915->drm.struct_mutex);
+	mock_file_free(gt->i915, file);
+	return err;
+}
+
+int intel_context_live_selftests(struct drm_i915_private *i915)
+{
+	static const struct i915_subtest tests[] = {
+		SUBTEST(live_active_context),
+		SUBTEST(live_remote_context),
+	};
+	struct intel_gt *gt = &i915->gt;
+
+	if (intel_gt_is_wedged(gt))
+		return 0;
+
+	return intel_gt_live_subtests(tests, gt);
+}
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.c
index 13f304a29fc8..e04afb519264 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.c
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ active_instance(struct i915_active *ref, u64 idx)
 	ref->cache = node;
 	mutex_unlock(&ref->mutex);
 
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(offsetof(typeof(*node), base));
 	return &node->base;
 }
 
@@ -212,6 +213,8 @@ int i915_active_ref(struct i915_active *ref,
 	struct i915_active_request *active;
 	int err;
 
+	GEM_BUG_ON(!timeline); /* reserved for idle-barrier */
+
 	/* Prevent reaping in case we malloc/wait while building the tree */
 	err = i915_active_acquire(ref);
 	if (err)
@@ -222,6 +225,7 @@ int i915_active_ref(struct i915_active *ref,
 		err = -ENOMEM;
 		goto out;
 	}
+	GEM_BUG_ON(IS_ERR(active->request));
 
 	if (!i915_active_request_isset(active))
 		atomic_inc(&ref->count);
@@ -342,6 +346,34 @@ void i915_active_fini(struct i915_active *ref)
 }
 #endif
 
+static struct active_node *idle_barrier(struct i915_active *ref)
+{
+	struct active_node *idle = NULL;
+	struct rb_node *rb;
+
+	if (RB_EMPTY_ROOT(&ref->tree))
+		return NULL;
+
+	mutex_lock(&ref->mutex);
+	for (rb = rb_first(&ref->tree); rb; rb = rb_next(rb)) {
+		struct active_node *node;
+
+		node = rb_entry(rb, typeof(*node), node);
+		if (node->timeline)
+			break;
+
+		if (!i915_active_request_isset(&node->base)) {
+			GEM_BUG_ON(!list_empty(&node->base.link));
+			rb_erase(rb, &ref->tree);
+			idle = node;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+	mutex_unlock(&ref->mutex);
+
+	return idle;
+}
+
 int i915_active_acquire_preallocate_barrier(struct i915_active *ref,
 					    struct intel_engine_cs *engine)
 {
@@ -352,22 +384,29 @@ int i915_active_acquire_preallocate_barrier(struct i915_active *ref,
 
 	GEM_BUG_ON(!engine->mask);
 	for_each_engine_masked(engine, i915, engine->mask, tmp) {
-		struct intel_context *kctx = engine->kernel_context;
 		struct active_node *node;
 
-		node = kmem_cache_alloc(global.slab_cache, GFP_KERNEL);
-		if (unlikely(!node)) {
-			err = -ENOMEM;
-			goto unwind;
+		node = idle_barrier(ref);
+		if (!node) {
+			node = kmem_cache_alloc(global.slab_cache,
+						GFP_KERNEL |
+						__GFP_RETRY_MAYFAIL |
+						__GFP_NOWARN);
+			if (unlikely(!node)) {
+				err = -ENOMEM;
+				goto unwind;
+			}
+
+			node->ref = ref;
+			node->timeline = 0;
+			node->base.retire = node_retire;
 		}
 
-		i915_active_request_init(&node->base,
-					 (void *)engine, node_retire);
-		node->timeline = kctx->ring->timeline->fence_context;
-		node->ref = ref;
+		intel_engine_pm_get(engine);
+
+		RCU_INIT_POINTER(node->base.request, (void *)engine);
 		atomic_inc(&ref->count);
 
-		intel_engine_pm_get(engine);
 		llist_add((struct llist_node *)&node->base.link,
 			  &ref->barriers);
 	}
@@ -402,6 +441,7 @@ void i915_active_acquire_barrier(struct i915_active *ref)
 
 		node = container_of((struct list_head *)pos,
 				    typeof(*node), base.link);
+		GEM_BUG_ON(node->timeline);
 
 		engine = (void *)rcu_access_pointer(node->base.request);
 		RCU_INIT_POINTER(node->base.request, ERR_PTR(-EAGAIN));
@@ -410,12 +450,7 @@ void i915_active_acquire_barrier(struct i915_active *ref)
 		p = &ref->tree.rb_node;
 		while (*p) {
 			parent = *p;
-			if (rb_entry(parent,
-				     struct active_node,
-				     node)->timeline < node->timeline)
-				p = &parent->rb_right;
-			else
-				p = &parent->rb_left;
+			p = &parent->rb_left;
 		}
 		rb_link_node(&node->node, parent, p);
 		rb_insert_color(&node->node, &ref->tree);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/i915_live_selftests.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/i915_live_selftests.h
index 2b31a4ee0b4c..a841d3f9bedc 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/i915_live_selftests.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/i915_live_selftests.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ selftest(workarounds, intel_workarounds_live_selftests)
 selftest(timelines, intel_timeline_live_selftests)
 selftest(requests, i915_request_live_selftests)
 selftest(active, i915_active_live_selftests)
+selftest(gt_contexts, intel_context_live_selftests)
 selftest(objects, i915_gem_object_live_selftests)
 selftest(mman, i915_gem_mman_live_selftests)
 selftest(dmabuf, i915_gem_dmabuf_live_selftests)
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ selftest(gtt, i915_gem_gtt_live_selftests)
 selftest(gem, i915_gem_live_selftests)
 selftest(evict, i915_gem_evict_live_selftests)
 selftest(hugepages, i915_gem_huge_page_live_selftests)
-selftest(contexts, i915_gem_context_live_selftests)
+selftest(gem_contexts, i915_gem_context_live_selftests)
 selftest(blt, i915_gem_object_blt_live_selftests)
 selftest(client, i915_gem_client_blt_live_selftests)
 selftest(reset, intel_reset_live_selftests)
