diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu.h
index c8860f05bfb9..acd8631d8024 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu.h
@@ -1768,10 +1768,10 @@ int amdgpu_device_resume(struct drm_device *dev, bool resume, bool fbcon);
 u32 amdgpu_get_vblank_counter_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe);
 int amdgpu_enable_vblank_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe);
 void amdgpu_disable_vblank_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe);
-int amdgpu_get_vblank_timestamp_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
-				    int *max_error,
-				    struct timeval *vblank_time,
-				    unsigned flags);
+bool amdgpu_get_vblank_timestamp_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
+				     int *max_error,
+				     struct timeval *vblank_time,
+				     unsigned flags);
 long amdgpu_kms_compat_ioctl(struct file *filp, unsigned int cmd,
 			     unsigned long arg);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu_kms.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu_kms.c
index 55f951bcc91f..ac42f707c046 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu_kms.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/amdgpu/amdgpu_kms.c
@@ -838,19 +838,19 @@ void amdgpu_disable_vblank_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe)
  *
  * Gets the timestamp on the requested crtc based on the
  * scanout position.  (all asics).
- * Returns postive status flags on success, negative error on failure.
+ * Returns true on success, false on failure.
  */
-int amdgpu_get_vblank_timestamp_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
-				    int *max_error,
-				    struct timeval *vblank_time,
-				    unsigned flags)
+bool amdgpu_get_vblank_timestamp_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
+				     int *max_error,
+				     struct timeval *vblank_time,
+				     unsigned flags)
 {
 	struct drm_crtc *crtc;
 	struct amdgpu_device *adev = dev->dev_private;
 
 	if (pipe >= dev->num_crtcs) {
 		DRM_ERROR("Invalid crtc %u\n", pipe);
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	/* Get associated drm_crtc: */
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ int amdgpu_get_vblank_timestamp_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
 		/* This can occur on driver load if some component fails to
 		 * initialize completely and driver is unloaded */
 		DRM_ERROR("Uninitialized crtc %d\n", pipe);
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	/* Helper routine in DRM core does all the work: */
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_irq.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_irq.c
index 4b0c7475ed13..2121ea29e1b2 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_irq.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_irq.c
@@ -722,43 +722,32 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_calc_timestamping_constants);
  * active. Higher level code is expected to handle this.
  *
  * Returns:
- * Negative value on error, failure or if not supported in current
- * video mode:
- *
- * -EINVAL    Invalid CRTC.
- * -EAGAIN    Temporary unavailable, e.g., called before initial modeset.
- * -ENOTSUPP  Function not supported in current display mode.
- * -EIO       Failed, e.g., due to failed scanout position query.
- *
- * Returns or'ed positive status flags on success:
- *
- * DRM_VBLANKTIME_SCANOUTPOS_METHOD - Signal this method used for timestamping.
- * DRM_VBLANKTIME_INVBL - Timestamp taken while scanout was in vblank interval.
  *
+ * Returns true on success, and false on failure, i.e. when no accurate
+ * timestamp could be acquired.
  */
-int drm_calc_vbltimestamp_from_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev,
-					  unsigned int pipe,
-					  int *max_error,
-					  struct timeval *vblank_time,
-					  unsigned flags,
-					  const struct drm_display_mode *mode)
+bool drm_calc_vbltimestamp_from_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev,
+					   unsigned int pipe,
+					   int *max_error,
+					   struct timeval *vblank_time,
+					   unsigned flags,
+					   const struct drm_display_mode *mode)
 {
 	struct timeval tv_etime;
 	ktime_t stime, etime;
 	unsigned int vbl_status;
-	int ret = DRM_VBLANKTIME_SCANOUTPOS_METHOD;
 	int vpos, hpos, i;
 	int delta_ns, duration_ns;
 
 	if (pipe >= dev->num_crtcs) {
 		DRM_ERROR("Invalid crtc %u\n", pipe);
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	/* Scanout position query not supported? Should not happen. */
 	if (!dev->driver->get_scanout_position) {
 		DRM_ERROR("Called from driver w/o get_scanout_position()!?\n");
-		return -EIO;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	/* If mode timing undefined, just return as no-op:
@@ -766,7 +755,7 @@ int drm_calc_vbltimestamp_from_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev,
 	 */
 	if (mode->crtc_clock == 0) {
 		DRM_DEBUG("crtc %u: Noop due to uninitialized mode.\n", pipe);
-		return -EAGAIN;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	/* Get current scanout position with system timestamp.
@@ -790,7 +779,7 @@ int drm_calc_vbltimestamp_from_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev,
 		if (!(vbl_status & DRM_SCANOUTPOS_VALID)) {
 			DRM_DEBUG("crtc %u : scanoutpos query failed [0x%x].\n",
 				  pipe, vbl_status);
-			return -EIO;
+			return false;
 		}
 
 		/* Compute uncertainty in timestamp of scanout position query. */
@@ -834,7 +823,7 @@ int drm_calc_vbltimestamp_from_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev,
 		      (long)vblank_time->tv_sec, (long)vblank_time->tv_usec,
 		      duration_ns/1000, i);
 
-	return ret;
+	return true;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_calc_vbltimestamp_from_scanoutpos);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_irq.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_irq.c
index 26aa1c170b43..df149d159ce7 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_irq.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_irq.c
@@ -964,7 +964,7 @@ int intel_get_crtc_scanline(struct intel_crtc *crtc)
 	return position;
 }
 
-static int i915_get_vblank_timestamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
+static bool i915_get_vblank_timestamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
 			      int *max_error,
 			      struct timeval *vblank_time,
 			      unsigned flags)
@@ -974,19 +974,19 @@ static int i915_get_vblank_timestamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
 
 	if (pipe >= INTEL_INFO(dev_priv)->num_pipes) {
 		DRM_ERROR("Invalid crtc %u\n", pipe);
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	/* Get drm_crtc to timestamp: */
 	crtc = intel_get_crtc_for_pipe(dev_priv, pipe);
 	if (crtc == NULL) {
 		DRM_ERROR("Invalid crtc %u\n", pipe);
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	if (!crtc->base.hwmode.crtc_clock) {
 		DRM_DEBUG_KMS("crtc %u is disabled\n", pipe);
-		return -EBUSY;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	/* Helper routine in DRM core does all the work: */
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/mdp/mdp5/mdp5_kms.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/mdp/mdp5/mdp5_kms.c
index 41ccd2a15d3c..655700eb42ba 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/mdp/mdp5/mdp5_kms.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/mdp/mdp5/mdp5_kms.c
@@ -595,23 +595,23 @@ static int mdp5_get_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int mdp5_get_vblank_timestamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
-				     int *max_error,
-				     struct timeval *vblank_time,
-				     unsigned flags)
+static bool mdp5_get_vblank_timestamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
+				      int *max_error,
+				      struct timeval *vblank_time,
+				      unsigned flags)
 {
 	struct msm_drm_private *priv = dev->dev_private;
 	struct drm_crtc *crtc;
 
 	if (pipe < 0 || pipe >= priv->num_crtcs) {
 		DRM_ERROR("Invalid crtc %d\n", pipe);
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	crtc = priv->crtcs[pipe];
 	if (!crtc) {
 		DRM_ERROR("Invalid crtc %d\n", pipe);
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	return drm_calc_vbltimestamp_from_scanoutpos(dev, pipe, max_error,
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_display.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_display.c
index 33269c7df30f..42f18b0b9c43 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_display.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_display.c
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ nouveau_display_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int
+bool
 nouveau_display_vblstamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
 			 int *max_error, struct timeval *time, unsigned flags)
 {
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ nouveau_display_vblstamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
 		}
 	}
 
-	return -EINVAL;
+	return false;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_display.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_display.h
index 4a75df06c139..bc9d1e7b0117 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_display.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_display.h
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ void nouveau_display_vblank_disable(struct drm_device *, unsigned int);
 int  nouveau_display_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *, unsigned int,
 				unsigned int, int *, int *, ktime_t *,
 				ktime_t *, const struct drm_display_mode *);
-int  nouveau_display_vblstamp(struct drm_device *, unsigned int, int *,
-			      struct timeval *, unsigned);
+bool  nouveau_display_vblstamp(struct drm_device *, unsigned int, int *,
+			       struct timeval *, unsigned);
 
 int  nouveau_crtc_page_flip(struct drm_crtc *crtc, struct drm_framebuffer *fb,
 			    struct drm_pending_vblank_event *event,
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_drv.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_drv.c
index 312436a8d9e5..6d79b5c2805b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_drv.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_drv.c
@@ -114,10 +114,10 @@ int radeon_resume_kms(struct drm_device *dev, bool resume, bool fbcon);
 u32 radeon_get_vblank_counter_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe);
 int radeon_enable_vblank_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe);
 void radeon_disable_vblank_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe);
-int radeon_get_vblank_timestamp_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
-				    int *max_error,
-				    struct timeval *vblank_time,
-				    unsigned flags);
+bool radeon_get_vblank_timestamp_kms(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
+				     int *max_error,
+				     struct timeval *vblank_time,
+				     unsigned flags);
 void radeon_driver_irq_preinstall_kms(struct drm_device *dev);
 int radeon_driver_irq_postinstall_kms(struct drm_device *dev);
 void radeon_driver_irq_uninstall_kms(struct drm_device *dev);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_kms.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_kms.c
index a32a62e03a44..9afe72010c64 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_kms.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_kms.c
@@ -868,25 +868,25 @@ void radeon_disable_vblank_kms(struct drm_device *dev, int crtc)
  *
  * Gets the timestamp on the requested crtc based on the
  * scanout position.  (all asics).
- * Returns postive status flags on success, negative error on failure.
+ * Returns true on success, false on failure.
  */
-int radeon_get_vblank_timestamp_kms(struct drm_device *dev, int crtc,
-				    int *max_error,
-				    struct timeval *vblank_time,
-				    unsigned flags)
+bool radeon_get_vblank_timestamp_kms(struct drm_device *dev, int crtc,
+				     int *max_error,
+				     struct timeval *vblank_time,
+				     unsigned flags)
 {
 	struct drm_crtc *drmcrtc;
 	struct radeon_device *rdev = dev->dev_private;
 
 	if (crtc < 0 || crtc >= dev->num_crtcs) {
 		DRM_ERROR("Invalid crtc %d\n", crtc);
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	/* Get associated drm_crtc: */
 	drmcrtc = &rdev->mode_info.crtcs[crtc]->base;
 	if (!drmcrtc)
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return false;
 
 	/* Helper routine in DRM core does all the work: */
 	return drm_calc_vbltimestamp_from_scanoutpos(dev, crtc, max_error,
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_crtc.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_crtc.c
index 24edd0c22cc9..74260990b6bf 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_crtc.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_crtc.c
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ int vc4_crtc_get_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int crtc_id,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int vc4_crtc_get_vblank_timestamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int crtc_id,
+bool vc4_crtc_get_vblank_timestamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int crtc_id,
 				  int *max_error, struct timeval *vblank_time,
 				  unsigned flags)
 {
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_drv.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_drv.h
index dffce6293d87..8a5d0e12ee02 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_drv.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_drv.h
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ int vc4_crtc_get_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int crtc_id,
 			    unsigned int flags, int *vpos, int *hpos,
 			    ktime_t *stime, ktime_t *etime,
 			    const struct drm_display_mode *mode);
-int vc4_crtc_get_vblank_timestamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int crtc_id,
+bool vc4_crtc_get_vblank_timestamp(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int crtc_id,
 				  int *max_error, struct timeval *vblank_time,
 				  unsigned flags);
 
diff --git a/include/drm/drmP.h b/include/drm/drmP.h
index 27ecfcdbf752..6304de7e041e 100644
--- a/include/drm/drmP.h
+++ b/include/drm/drmP.h
@@ -322,7 +322,6 @@ struct pci_controller;
 
 /* Flags and return codes for get_vblank_timestamp() driver function. */
 #define DRM_CALLED_FROM_VBLIRQ 1
-#define DRM_VBLANKTIME_SCANOUTPOS_METHOD (1 << 0)
 
 /* get_scanout_position() return flags */
 #define DRM_SCANOUTPOS_VALID        (1 << 0)
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_drv.h b/include/drm/drm_drv.h
index d0b5f363bfa1..da78e248d9d8 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_drv.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_drv.h
@@ -316,11 +316,10 @@ struct drm_driver {
 	 *
 	 * Returns:
 	 *
-	 * Zero if timestamping isn't supported in current display mode or a
-	 * negative number on failure. A positive status code on success,
-	 * which describes how the vblank_time timestamp was computed.
+	 * True on success, false on failure, which means the core should
+	 * fallback to a simple timestamp taken in drm_crtc_handle_vblank().
 	 */
-	int (*get_vblank_timestamp) (struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
+	bool (*get_vblank_timestamp) (struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int pipe,
 				     int *max_error,
 				     struct timeval *vblank_time,
 				     unsigned flags);
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_irq.h b/include/drm/drm_irq.h
index cf0be6594c8c..f0d5ccf9b282 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_irq.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_irq.h
@@ -153,11 +153,11 @@ void drm_crtc_vblank_on(struct drm_crtc *crtc);
 void drm_vblank_cleanup(struct drm_device *dev);
 u32 drm_accurate_vblank_count(struct drm_crtc *crtc);
 
-int drm_calc_vbltimestamp_from_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev,
-					  unsigned int pipe, int *max_error,
-					  struct timeval *vblank_time,
-					  unsigned flags,
-					  const struct drm_display_mode *mode);
+bool drm_calc_vbltimestamp_from_scanoutpos(struct drm_device *dev,
+					   unsigned int pipe, int *max_error,
+					   struct timeval *vblank_time,
+					   unsigned flags,
+					   const struct drm_display_mode *mode);
 void drm_calc_timestamping_constants(struct drm_crtc *crtc,
 				     const struct drm_display_mode *mode);
 
