diff --git a/Documentation/DocBook/drm.tmpl b/Documentation/DocBook/drm.tmpl
index 702c4474..92b4fa3 100644
--- a/Documentation/DocBook/drm.tmpl
+++ b/Documentation/DocBook/drm.tmpl
@@ -1903,8 +1903,8 @@ void intel_crt_init(struct drm_device *dev)
           <para>
             The function filters out modes larger than
             <parameter>max_width</parameter> and <parameter>max_height</parameter>
-            if specified. It then calls the connector
-            <methodname>mode_valid</methodname> helper operation for  each mode in
+            if specified. It then calls the optional connector
+            <methodname>mode_valid</methodname> helper operation for each mode in
             the probed list to check whether the mode is valid for the connector.
           </para>
         </listitem>
@@ -2265,7 +2265,7 @@ void intel_crt_init(struct drm_device *dev)
           <para>
             Verify whether a mode is valid for the connector. Return MODE_OK for
             supported modes and one of the enum drm_mode_status values (MODE_*)
-            for unsupported modes. This operation is mandatory.
+            for unsupported modes. This operation is optional.
           </para>
           <para>
             As the mode rejection reason is currently not used beside for
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/ast/ast_mode.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/ast/ast_mode.c
index a4afdc8..e599d64 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/ast/ast_mode.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/ast/ast_mode.c
@@ -743,12 +743,6 @@ static int ast_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int ast_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-			  struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	return MODE_OK;
-}
-
 static void ast_connector_destroy(struct drm_connector *connector)
 {
 	struct ast_connector *ast_connector = to_ast_connector(connector);
@@ -765,7 +759,6 @@ ast_connector_detect(struct drm_connector *connector, bool force)
 }
 
 static const struct drm_connector_helper_funcs ast_connector_helper_funcs = {
-	.mode_valid = ast_mode_valid,
 	.get_modes = ast_get_modes,
 	.best_encoder = ast_best_single_encoder,
 };
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/bridge/ptn3460.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/bridge/ptn3460.c
index a9e5c1a..3ff2813 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/bridge/ptn3460.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/bridge/ptn3460.c
@@ -225,12 +225,6 @@ out:
 	return num_modes;
 }
 
-static int ptn3460_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-		struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	return MODE_OK;
-}
-
 struct drm_encoder *ptn3460_best_encoder(struct drm_connector *connector)
 {
 	struct ptn3460_bridge *ptn_bridge;
@@ -242,7 +236,6 @@ struct drm_encoder *ptn3460_best_encoder(struct drm_connector *connector)
 
 struct drm_connector_helper_funcs ptn3460_connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = ptn3460_get_modes,
-	.mode_valid = ptn3460_mode_valid,
 	.best_encoder = ptn3460_best_encoder,
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/cirrus/cirrus_mode.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/cirrus/cirrus_mode.c
index 2d64aea..057c7d1 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/cirrus/cirrus_mode.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/cirrus/cirrus_mode.c
@@ -502,13 +502,6 @@ static int cirrus_vga_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return count;
 }
 
-static int cirrus_vga_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-				 struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	/* Any mode we've added is valid */
-	return MODE_OK;
-}
-
 static struct drm_encoder *cirrus_connector_best_encoder(struct drm_connector
 						  *connector)
 {
@@ -543,7 +536,6 @@ static void cirrus_connector_destroy(struct drm_connector *connector)
 
 struct drm_connector_helper_funcs cirrus_vga_connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = cirrus_vga_get_modes,
-	.mode_valid = cirrus_vga_mode_valid,
 	.best_encoder = cirrus_connector_best_encoder,
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_crtc_helper.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_crtc_helper.c
index 1fbe842..3ca0aed 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_crtc_helper.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_crtc_helper.c
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ int drm_helper_probe_single_connector_modes(struct drm_connector *connector,
 	drm_mode_validate_flag(connector, mode_flags);
 
 	list_for_each_entry(mode, &connector->modes, head) {
-		if (mode->status == MODE_OK)
+		if (mode->status == MODE_OK && connector_funcs->mode_valid)
 			mode->status = connector_funcs->mode_valid(connector,
 								   mode);
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_dp_core.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_dp_core.c
index a59bca9..a135025 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_dp_core.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_dp_core.c
@@ -949,12 +949,6 @@ static int exynos_dp_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return 1;
 }
 
-static int exynos_dp_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-			struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	return MODE_OK;
-}
-
 static struct drm_encoder *exynos_dp_best_encoder(
 			struct drm_connector *connector)
 {
@@ -965,7 +959,6 @@ static struct drm_encoder *exynos_dp_best_encoder(
 
 static struct drm_connector_helper_funcs exynos_dp_connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = exynos_dp_get_modes,
-	.mode_valid = exynos_dp_mode_valid,
 	.best_encoder = exynos_dp_best_encoder,
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_dpi.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_dpi.c
index 2b09c7c..82e52c7 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_dpi.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_dpi.c
@@ -94,12 +94,6 @@ static int exynos_dpi_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int exynos_dpi_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-				 struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	return MODE_OK;
-}
-
 static struct drm_encoder *
 exynos_dpi_best_encoder(struct drm_connector *connector)
 {
@@ -110,7 +104,6 @@ exynos_dpi_best_encoder(struct drm_connector *connector)
 
 static struct drm_connector_helper_funcs exynos_dpi_connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = exynos_dpi_get_modes,
-	.mode_valid = exynos_dpi_mode_valid,
 	.best_encoder = exynos_dpi_best_encoder,
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_vidi.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_vidi.c
index 7afead9..b698086 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_vidi.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_vidi.c
@@ -533,12 +533,6 @@ static int vidi_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return drm_add_edid_modes(connector, edid);
 }
 
-static int vidi_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-			struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	return MODE_OK;
-}
-
 static struct drm_encoder *vidi_best_encoder(struct drm_connector *connector)
 {
 	struct vidi_context *ctx = ctx_from_connector(connector);
@@ -548,7 +542,6 @@ static struct drm_encoder *vidi_best_encoder(struct drm_connector *connector)
 
 static struct drm_connector_helper_funcs vidi_connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = vidi_get_modes,
-	.mode_valid = vidi_mode_valid,
 	.best_encoder = vidi_best_encoder,
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/rcar-du/rcar_du_lvdscon.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/rcar-du/rcar_du_lvdscon.c
index 4f3ba93..289048d 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/rcar-du/rcar_du_lvdscon.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/rcar-du/rcar_du_lvdscon.c
@@ -57,15 +57,8 @@ static int rcar_du_lvds_connector_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return 1;
 }
 
-static int rcar_du_lvds_connector_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-					    struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	return MODE_OK;
-}
-
 static const struct drm_connector_helper_funcs connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = rcar_du_lvds_connector_get_modes,
-	.mode_valid = rcar_du_lvds_connector_mode_valid,
 	.best_encoder = rcar_du_connector_best_encoder,
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/rcar-du/rcar_du_vgacon.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/rcar-du/rcar_du_vgacon.c
index 41d563a..ccfe64c 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/rcar-du/rcar_du_vgacon.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/rcar-du/rcar_du_vgacon.c
@@ -25,15 +25,8 @@ static int rcar_du_vga_connector_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int rcar_du_vga_connector_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-					    struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	return MODE_OK;
-}
-
 static const struct drm_connector_helper_funcs connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = rcar_du_vga_connector_get_modes,
-	.mode_valid = rcar_du_vga_connector_mode_valid,
 	.best_encoder = rcar_du_connector_best_encoder,
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/shmobile/shmob_drm_crtc.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/shmobile/shmob_drm_crtc.c
index e9e5e6d..faf176b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/shmobile/shmob_drm_crtc.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/shmobile/shmob_drm_crtc.c
@@ -674,12 +674,6 @@ static int shmob_drm_connector_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return 1;
 }
 
-static int shmob_drm_connector_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-					  struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	return MODE_OK;
-}
-
 static struct drm_encoder *
 shmob_drm_connector_best_encoder(struct drm_connector *connector)
 {
@@ -690,7 +684,6 @@ shmob_drm_connector_best_encoder(struct drm_connector *connector)
 
 static const struct drm_connector_helper_funcs connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = shmob_drm_connector_get_modes,
-	.mode_valid = shmob_drm_connector_mode_valid,
 	.best_encoder = shmob_drm_connector_best_encoder,
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/staging/imx-drm/imx-hdmi.c b/drivers/staging/imx-drm/imx-hdmi.c
index f996e08..11ba1ea 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/imx-drm/imx-hdmi.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/imx-drm/imx-hdmi.c
@@ -1560,13 +1560,6 @@ static int imx_hdmi_connector_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int imx_hdmi_connector_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-			  struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-
-	return MODE_OK;
-}
-
 static struct drm_encoder *imx_hdmi_connector_best_encoder(struct drm_connector
 							   *connector)
 {
@@ -1656,7 +1649,6 @@ static struct drm_connector_funcs imx_hdmi_connector_funcs = {
 
 static struct drm_connector_helper_funcs imx_hdmi_connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = imx_hdmi_connector_get_modes,
-	.mode_valid = imx_hdmi_connector_mode_valid,
 	.best_encoder = imx_hdmi_connector_best_encoder,
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/staging/imx-drm/imx-ldb.c b/drivers/staging/imx-drm/imx-ldb.c
index c703e98..1ce0927 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/imx-drm/imx-ldb.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/imx-drm/imx-ldb.c
@@ -120,12 +120,6 @@ static int imx_ldb_connector_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return num_modes;
 }
 
-static int imx_ldb_connector_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-			  struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	return 0;
-}
-
 static struct drm_encoder *imx_ldb_connector_best_encoder(
 		struct drm_connector *connector)
 {
@@ -331,7 +325,6 @@ static struct drm_connector_funcs imx_ldb_connector_funcs = {
 static struct drm_connector_helper_funcs imx_ldb_connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = imx_ldb_connector_get_modes,
 	.best_encoder = imx_ldb_connector_best_encoder,
-	.mode_valid = imx_ldb_connector_mode_valid,
 };
 
 static struct drm_encoder_funcs imx_ldb_encoder_funcs = {
diff --git a/drivers/staging/imx-drm/parallel-display.c b/drivers/staging/imx-drm/parallel-display.c
index 823d015..7b9da66 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/imx-drm/parallel-display.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/imx-drm/parallel-display.c
@@ -85,12 +85,6 @@ static int imx_pd_connector_get_modes(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	return num_modes;
 }
 
-static int imx_pd_connector_mode_valid(struct drm_connector *connector,
-			  struct drm_display_mode *mode)
-{
-	return 0;
-}
-
 static struct drm_encoder *imx_pd_connector_best_encoder(
 		struct drm_connector *connector)
 {
@@ -147,7 +141,6 @@ static struct drm_connector_funcs imx_pd_connector_funcs = {
 static struct drm_connector_helper_funcs imx_pd_connector_helper_funcs = {
 	.get_modes = imx_pd_connector_get_modes,
 	.best_encoder = imx_pd_connector_best_encoder,
-	.mode_valid = imx_pd_connector_mode_valid,
 };
 
 static struct drm_encoder_funcs imx_pd_encoder_funcs = {
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_crtc_helper.h b/include/drm/drm_crtc_helper.h
index 0bb34ca..80d2ca8 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_crtc_helper.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_crtc_helper.h
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ struct drm_encoder_helper_funcs {
 /**
  * drm_connector_helper_funcs - helper operations for connectors
  * @get_modes: get mode list for this connector
- * @mode_valid: is this mode valid on the given connector?
+ * @mode_valid (optional): is this mode valid on the given connector?
  *
  * The helper operations are called by the mid-layer CRTC helper.
  */
