diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
index 2ee1eaa66188..be6bab889f1b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #define pr_fmt(fmt) KBUILD_MODNAME ": " fmt
 
 #include <linux/console.h>
+#include <linux/dma-buf.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/sysrq.h>
 #include <linux/slab.h>
@@ -745,6 +746,24 @@ static void drm_fb_helper_resume_worker(struct work_struct *work)
 	console_unlock();
 }
 
+static void drm_fb_helper_dirty_blit_real(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
+					  struct drm_clip_rect *clip)
+{
+	struct drm_framebuffer *fb = fb_helper->fb;
+	unsigned int cpp = drm_format_plane_cpp(fb->format->format, 0);
+	size_t offset = clip->y1 * fb->pitches[0] + clip->x1 * cpp;
+	void *src = fb_helper->fbdev->screen_buffer + offset;
+	void *dst = fb_helper->buffer->vaddr + offset;
+	size_t len = (clip->x2 - clip->x1) * cpp;
+	unsigned int y;
+
+	for (y = clip->y1; y < clip->y2; y++) {
+		memcpy(dst, src, len);
+		src += fb->pitches[0];
+		dst += fb->pitches[0];
+	}
+}
+
 static void drm_fb_helper_dirty_work(struct work_struct *work)
 {
 	struct drm_fb_helper *helper = container_of(work, struct drm_fb_helper,
@@ -760,8 +779,11 @@ static void drm_fb_helper_dirty_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&helper->dirty_lock, flags);
 
 	/* call dirty callback only when it has been really touched */
-	if (clip_copy.x1 < clip_copy.x2 && clip_copy.y1 < clip_copy.y2)
+	if (clip_copy.x1 < clip_copy.x2 && clip_copy.y1 < clip_copy.y2) {
+		if (helper->buffer) /* Generic fbdev uses a shadow buffer */
+			drm_fb_helper_dirty_blit_real(helper, &clip_copy);
 		helper->fb->funcs->dirty(helper->fb, NULL, 0, 0, &clip_copy, 1);
+	}
 }
 
 /**
@@ -2928,6 +2950,191 @@ void drm_fb_helper_output_poll_changed(struct drm_device *dev)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_fb_helper_output_poll_changed);
 
+/* @user: 1=userspace, 0=fbcon */
+static int drm_fbdev_fb_open(struct fb_info *info, int user)
+{
+	struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper = info->par;
+
+	if (!try_module_get(fb_helper->dev->driver->fops->owner))
+		return -ENODEV;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int drm_fbdev_fb_release(struct fb_info *info, int user)
+{
+	struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper = info->par;
+
+	module_put(fb_helper->dev->driver->fops->owner);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/*
+ * FIXME:
+ * Merge this into drm_fbdev_generic_client_release() when all CMA drivers have
+ * been moved over to using drm_fbdev_generic_setup().
+ */
+static void drm_fbdev_generic_client_release_do(struct drm_client_dev *client)
+{
+	struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper = drm_fb_helper_from_client(client);
+	struct fb_info *fbi = fb_helper->fbdev;
+	bool defio = fbi->fbdefio;
+	struct fb_ops *fbops;
+	void *shadow;
+
+	if (defio) {
+		fb_deferred_io_cleanup(fbi);
+		fbops = fbi->fbops;
+		shadow = fbi->screen_buffer;
+	}
+
+	drm_fb_helper_fini(fb_helper);
+
+	if (defio) {
+		kfree(fbops);
+		vfree(shadow);
+	}
+
+	drm_client_framebuffer_delete(fb_helper->buffer);
+}
+
+/*
+ * fb_ops.fb_destroy is called by the last put_fb_info() call at the end of
+ * unregister_framebuffer() or fb_release().
+ */
+static void drm_fbdev_fb_destroy(struct fb_info *info)
+{
+	struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper = info->par;
+
+	/*
+	 * FIXME:
+	 * Remove this when all CMA drivers have been moved over to using
+	 * drm_fbdev_generic_setup().
+	 */
+	drm_fbdev_generic_client_release_do(&fb_helper->client);
+
+	drm_client_put(&fb_helper->client);
+}
+
+static int drm_fbdev_fb_mmap(struct fb_info *info, struct vm_area_struct *vma)
+{
+	struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper = info->par;
+
+	if (fb_helper->dev->driver->gem_prime_mmap)
+		return fb_helper->dev->driver->gem_prime_mmap(fb_helper->buffer->gem, vma);
+	else
+		return -ENODEV;
+}
+
+static struct fb_ops drm_fbdev_fb_ops = {
+	.owner		= THIS_MODULE,
+	DRM_FB_HELPER_DEFAULT_OPS,
+	.fb_open	= drm_fbdev_fb_open,
+	.fb_release	= drm_fbdev_fb_release,
+	.fb_destroy	= drm_fbdev_fb_destroy,
+	.fb_mmap	= drm_fbdev_fb_mmap,
+	.fb_read	= drm_fb_helper_sys_read,
+	.fb_write	= drm_fb_helper_sys_write,
+	.fb_fillrect	= drm_fb_helper_sys_fillrect,
+	.fb_copyarea	= drm_fb_helper_sys_copyarea,
+	.fb_imageblit	= drm_fb_helper_sys_imageblit,
+};
+
+static struct fb_deferred_io drm_fbdev_defio = {
+	.delay		= HZ / 20,
+	.deferred_io	= drm_fb_helper_deferred_io,
+};
+
+/**
+ * drm_fb_helper_generic_probe - Generic fbdev emulation probe helper
+ * @fb_helper: fbdev helper structure
+ * @sizes: describes fbdev size and scanout surface size
+ *
+ * This function uses the client API to crate a framebuffer backed by a dumb buffer.
+ *
+ * The _sys_ versions are used for &fb_ops.fb_read, fb_write, fb_fillrect,
+ * fb_copyarea, fb_imageblit.
+ *
+ * Returns:
+ * Zero on success or negative error code on failure.
+ */
+int drm_fb_helper_generic_probe(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
+				struct drm_fb_helper_surface_size *sizes)
+{
+	struct drm_client_dev *client = &fb_helper->client;
+	struct drm_client_buffer *buffer;
+	struct drm_framebuffer *fb;
+	struct fb_info *fbi;
+	u32 format;
+	int ret;
+
+	DRM_DEBUG_KMS("surface width(%d), height(%d) and bpp(%d)\n",
+		      sizes->surface_width, sizes->surface_height,
+		      sizes->surface_bpp);
+
+	format = drm_mode_legacy_fb_format(sizes->surface_bpp, sizes->surface_depth);
+	buffer = drm_client_framebuffer_create(client, sizes->surface_width,
+					       sizes->surface_height, format);
+	if (IS_ERR(buffer))
+		return PTR_ERR(buffer);
+
+	fb_helper->buffer = buffer;
+	fb_helper->fb = buffer->fb;
+	fb = buffer->fb;
+
+	fbi = drm_fb_helper_alloc_fbi(fb_helper);
+	if (IS_ERR(fbi)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(fbi);
+		goto err_free_buffer;
+	}
+
+	fbi->par = fb_helper;
+	fbi->fbops = &drm_fbdev_fb_ops;
+	fbi->screen_size = fb->height * fb->pitches[0];
+	fbi->fix.smem_len = fbi->screen_size;
+	fbi->screen_buffer = buffer->vaddr;
+	strcpy(fbi->fix.id, "DRM emulated");
+
+	drm_fb_helper_fill_fix(fbi, fb->pitches[0], fb->format->depth);
+	drm_fb_helper_fill_var(fbi, fb_helper, sizes->fb_width, sizes->fb_height);
+
+	if (fb->funcs->dirty) {
+		struct fb_ops *fbops;
+		void *shadow;
+
+		/*
+		 * fb_deferred_io_cleanup() clears &fbops->fb_mmap so a per
+		 * instance version is necessary.
+		 */
+		fbops = kzalloc(sizeof(*fbops), GFP_KERNEL);
+		shadow = vzalloc(fbi->screen_size);
+		if (!fbops || !shadow) {
+			kfree(fbops);
+			vfree(shadow);
+			ret = -ENOMEM;
+			goto err_fb_info_destroy;
+		}
+
+		*fbops = *fbi->fbops;
+		fbi->fbops = fbops;
+		fbi->screen_buffer = shadow;
+		fbi->fbdefio = &drm_fbdev_defio;
+
+		fb_deferred_io_init(fbi);
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+
+err_fb_info_destroy:
+	drm_fb_helper_fini(fb_helper);
+err_free_buffer:
+	drm_client_framebuffer_delete(buffer);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_fb_helper_generic_probe);
+
 /* The Kconfig DRM_KMS_HELPER selects FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE (if !EXPERT)
  * but the module doesn't depend on any fb console symbols.  At least
  * attempt to load fbcon to avoid leaving the system without a usable console.
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h b/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h
index b069433e7fc1..c134bbcfd2e9 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_fb_helper.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 
 struct drm_fb_helper;
 
+#include <drm/drm_client.h>
 #include <drm/drm_crtc.h>
 #include <drm/drm_device.h>
 #include <linux/kgdb.h>
@@ -154,6 +155,20 @@ struct drm_fb_helper_connector {
  * operations.
  */
 struct drm_fb_helper {
+	/**
+	 * @client:
+	 *
+	 * DRM client used by the generic fbdev emulation.
+	 */
+	struct drm_client_dev client;
+
+	/**
+	 * @buffer:
+	 *
+	 * Framebuffer used by the generic fbdev emulation.
+	 */
+	struct drm_client_buffer *buffer;
+
 	struct drm_framebuffer *fb;
 	struct drm_device *dev;
 	int crtc_count;
@@ -234,6 +249,12 @@ struct drm_fb_helper {
 	int preferred_bpp;
 };
 
+static inline struct drm_fb_helper *
+drm_fb_helper_from_client(struct drm_client_dev *client)
+{
+	return container_of(client, struct drm_fb_helper, client);
+}
+
 /**
  * define DRM_FB_HELPER_DEFAULT_OPS - helper define for drm drivers
  *
@@ -330,6 +351,9 @@ void drm_fb_helper_fbdev_teardown(struct drm_device *dev);
 
 void drm_fb_helper_lastclose(struct drm_device *dev);
 void drm_fb_helper_output_poll_changed(struct drm_device *dev);
+
+int drm_fb_helper_generic_probe(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
+				struct drm_fb_helper_surface_size *sizes);
 #else
 static inline void drm_fb_helper_prepare(struct drm_device *dev,
 					struct drm_fb_helper *helper,
@@ -564,6 +588,13 @@ static inline void drm_fb_helper_output_poll_changed(struct drm_device *dev)
 {
 }
 
+static inline int
+drm_fb_helper_generic_probe(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
+			    struct drm_fb_helper_surface_size *sizes)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
 #endif
 
 static inline int
