diff --git a/Documentation/gpu/drm-kms-helpers.rst b/Documentation/gpu/drm-kms-helpers.rst
index 58b375e47615..c067a196902d 100644
--- a/Documentation/gpu/drm-kms-helpers.rst
+++ b/Documentation/gpu/drm-kms-helpers.rst
@@ -53,12 +53,18 @@ Overview
 .. kernel-doc:: drivers/gpu/drm/drm_atomic_helper.c
    :doc: overview
 
-Implementing Asynchronous Atomic Commit
+Implementing Nonblocking Atomic Commit
 ---------------------------------------
 
 .. kernel-doc:: drivers/gpu/drm/drm_atomic_helper.c
    :doc: implementing nonblocking commit
 
+Amend Mode Atomic Commit
+------------------------
+
+.. kernel-doc:: drivers/gpu/drm/drm_atomic_helper.c
+   :doc: amend mode atomic commit
+
 Helper Functions Reference
 --------------------------
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/amdgpu_dm/amdgpu_dm.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/amdgpu_dm/amdgpu_dm.c
index 2f26581b93ff..711e7715e112 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/amdgpu_dm/amdgpu_dm.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/amdgpu_dm/amdgpu_dm.c
@@ -3779,8 +3779,12 @@ static const struct drm_plane_helper_funcs dm_plane_helper_funcs = {
 	.prepare_fb = dm_plane_helper_prepare_fb,
 	.cleanup_fb = dm_plane_helper_cleanup_fb,
 	.atomic_check = dm_plane_atomic_check,
-	.atomic_async_check = dm_plane_atomic_async_check,
-	.atomic_async_update = dm_plane_atomic_async_update
+	/*
+	 * FIXME: ideally, instead of hooking async updates to amend,
+	 * we could avoid tearing by modifying the pending commit.
+	 */
+	.atomic_amend_check = dm_plane_atomic_async_check,
+	.atomic_amend_update = dm_plane_atomic_async_update
 };
 
 /*
@@ -6140,7 +6144,7 @@ static int amdgpu_dm_atomic_check(struct drm_device *dev,
 		 * helper, check if it can be done asynchronously for better
 		 * performance.
 		 */
-		state->async_update = !drm_atomic_helper_async_check(dev, state);
+		state->amend_update = !drm_atomic_helper_amend_check(dev, state);
 	}
 
 	/* Must be success */
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_atomic_helper.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_atomic_helper.c
index 2453678d1186..eb5dcd84fea7 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_atomic_helper.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_atomic_helper.c
@@ -948,7 +948,7 @@ int drm_atomic_helper_check(struct drm_device *dev,
 		return ret;
 
 	if (state->legacy_cursor_update)
-		state->async_update = !drm_atomic_helper_async_check(dev, state);
+		state->amend_update = !drm_atomic_helper_amend_check(dev, state);
 
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -1569,19 +1569,68 @@ static void commit_work(struct work_struct *work)
 }
 
 /**
- * drm_atomic_helper_async_check - check if state can be commited asynchronously
+ * DOC: amend mode atomic commit
+ *
+ * The amend feature provides a way to perform 1000 updates to be applied as
+ * soon as possible without waiting for 1000 vblanks.
+
+ * Currently, only the legacy cursor update uses amend mode, where historically,
+ * userspace performs several updates before the next vblank and don't want to
+ * see a delay in the cursor's movement.
+ * If amend is not supported, legacy cursor falls back to a normal sync update.
+ *
+ * To implement the legacy cursor update, drivers should provide
+ * &drm_plane_helper_funcs.atomic_amend_check() and
+ * &drm_plane_helper_funcs.atomic_amend_update()
+ *
+ * Drivers just need to make sure the last state overrides the previous one, so
+ * that if X updates were performed, then, in some point in the near future,
+ * preferentially in the next vblank, the Xth state will be the hardware state.
+ *
+ * If the hardware supports asynchronous update, i.e, changing its state without
+ * waiting for vblank, then &drm_plane_helper_funcs.atomic_amend_update() can be
+ * implemented using asynchronous update (the amend mode property is held), but
+ * it can cause tearing in the image.
+ *
+ * Otherwise (if async is not supported by the hw), drivers need to override the
+ * commit to be applied in the next vblank, and also they need to take care of
+ * framebuffer references when programming a new framebuffer, as hw can still be
+ * scanning out the old framebuffer. For now drivers must implement their own
+ * workers for deferring if needed, until a common solution is created.
+ *
+ *
+ * Notes / highlights:
+ *
+ * - amend update is performed on legacy cursor updates.
+ *
+ * - amend update won't happen if there is an outstanding commit modifying the
+ *   same plane.
+ *
+ * - amend update won't happen if atomic_amend_check() returns false.
+ *
+ * - if atomic_amend_check() fails, it falls back to a normal synchronous
+ *   update.
+ *
+ * - if userspace wants to ensure an asynchronous page flip, i.e. change hw
+ *   state immediately, see DRM_MODE_PAGE_FLIP_ASYNC flag
+ *   (asynchronous page flip maintains the amend property by definition).
+ *
+ * - Asynchronous modeset doesn't make sense, only asynchronous page flip.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * drm_atomic_helper_amend_check - check if state can be amended.
  * @dev: DRM device
  * @state: the driver state object
  *
- * This helper will check if it is possible to commit the state asynchronously.
- * Async commits are not supposed to swap the states like normal sync commits
- * but just do in-place changes on the current state.
+ * This helper will check if it is possible perform a commit in amend mode.
+ * For amend mode definition see :doc: amend mode atomic commit
  *
- * It will return 0 if the commit can happen in an asynchronous fashion or error
- * if not. Note that error just mean it can't be commited asynchronously, if it
- * fails the commit should be treated like a normal synchronous commit.
+ * It will return 0 if the commit can happen in an amend fashion or error
+ * if not. Note that error just mean it can't be committed in amend mode, if it
+ * fails the commit should be treated like a normal commit.
  */
-int drm_atomic_helper_async_check(struct drm_device *dev,
+int drm_atomic_helper_amend_check(struct drm_device *dev,
 				   struct drm_atomic_state *state)
 {
 	struct drm_crtc *crtc;
@@ -1610,7 +1659,7 @@ int drm_atomic_helper_async_check(struct drm_device *dev,
 
 	/*
 	 * FIXME: Since prepare_fb and cleanup_fb are always called on
-	 * the new_plane_state for async updates we need to block framebuffer
+	 * the new_plane_state for amend updates, we need to block framebuffer
 	 * changes. This prevents use of a fb that's been cleaned up and
 	 * double cleanups from occuring.
 	 */
@@ -1618,37 +1667,43 @@ int drm_atomic_helper_async_check(struct drm_device *dev,
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	funcs = plane->helper_private;
-	if (!funcs->atomic_async_update)
+	if (!funcs->atomic_amend_update)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	if (new_plane_state->fence)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	/*
-	 * Don't do an async update if there is an outstanding commit modifying
-	 * the plane.  This prevents our async update's changes from getting
-	 * overridden by a previous synchronous update's state.
+	 * Don't do an amend update if there is an outstanding commit modifying
+	 * the plane.
+	 * TODO: add support for modifying the outstanding commit.
 	 */
 	if (old_plane_state->commit &&
 	    !try_wait_for_completion(&old_plane_state->commit->hw_done))
 		return -EBUSY;
 
-	return funcs->atomic_async_check(plane, new_plane_state);
+	return funcs->atomic_amend_check(plane, new_plane_state);
 }
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_atomic_helper_async_check);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_atomic_helper_amend_check);
 
 /**
- * drm_atomic_helper_async_commit - commit state asynchronously
+ * drm_atomic_helper_amend_commit - commit state in amend mode
  * @dev: DRM device
  * @state: the driver state object
  *
- * This function commits a state asynchronously, i.e., not vblank
- * synchronized. It should be used on a state only when
- * drm_atomic_async_check() succeeds. Async commits are not supposed to swap
- * the states like normal sync commits, but just do in-place changes on the
- * current state.
+ * This function commits a state in amend mode.
+ * For amend mode definition see :doc: amend mode atomic commit
+ *
+ * It should be used on a state only when drm_atomic_amend_check() succeeds.
+ *
+ * Amend commits are not supposed to swap the states like normal sync commits,
+ * but just do in-place changes on the current state.
+ *
+ * TODO: instead of doing in-place changes, modify the new_state and perform an
+ * immediate flip. Drivers could reuse the page_flip code and even use the
+ * DRM_MODE_PAGE_FLIP_ASYNC flag if the hardware supports asyncronous update.
  */
-void drm_atomic_helper_async_commit(struct drm_device *dev,
+void drm_atomic_helper_amend_commit(struct drm_device *dev,
 				    struct drm_atomic_state *state)
 {
 	struct drm_plane *plane;
@@ -1658,10 +1713,10 @@ void drm_atomic_helper_async_commit(struct drm_device *dev,
 
 	for_each_new_plane_in_state(state, plane, plane_state, i) {
 		funcs = plane->helper_private;
-		funcs->atomic_async_update(plane, plane_state);
+		funcs->atomic_amend_update(plane, plane_state);
 
 		/*
-		 * ->atomic_async_update() is supposed to update the
+		 * ->atomic_amend_update() is supposed to update the
 		 * plane->state in-place, make sure at least common
 		 * properties have been properly updated.
 		 */
@@ -1672,7 +1727,7 @@ void drm_atomic_helper_async_commit(struct drm_device *dev,
 		WARN_ON_ONCE(plane->state->src_y != plane_state->src_y);
 	}
 }
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_atomic_helper_async_commit);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_atomic_helper_amend_commit);
 
 /**
  * drm_atomic_helper_commit - commit validated state object
@@ -1698,12 +1753,12 @@ int drm_atomic_helper_commit(struct drm_device *dev,
 {
 	int ret;
 
-	if (state->async_update) {
+	if (state->amend_update) {
 		ret = drm_atomic_helper_prepare_planes(dev, state);
 		if (ret)
 			return ret;
 
-		drm_atomic_helper_async_commit(dev, state);
+		drm_atomic_helper_amend_commit(dev, state);
 		drm_atomic_helper_cleanup_planes(dev, state);
 
 		return 0;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/disp/mdp5/mdp5_plane.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/disp/mdp5/mdp5_plane.c
index be13140967b4..814e8230cec6 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/disp/mdp5/mdp5_plane.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/disp/mdp5/mdp5_plane.c
@@ -531,8 +531,12 @@ static const struct drm_plane_helper_funcs mdp5_plane_helper_funcs = {
 		.cleanup_fb = mdp5_plane_cleanup_fb,
 		.atomic_check = mdp5_plane_atomic_check,
 		.atomic_update = mdp5_plane_atomic_update,
-		.atomic_async_check = mdp5_plane_atomic_async_check,
-		.atomic_async_update = mdp5_plane_atomic_async_update,
+		/*
+		 * FIXME: ideally, instead of hooking async updates to amend,
+		 * we could avoid tearing by modifying the pending commit.
+		 */
+		.atomic_amend_check = mdp5_plane_atomic_async_check,
+		.atomic_amend_update = mdp5_plane_atomic_async_update,
 };
 
 static void set_scanout_locked(struct mdp5_kms *mdp5_kms,
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/rockchip/rockchip_drm_vop.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/rockchip/rockchip_drm_vop.c
index a7cbf6c9a153..216ad76118dc 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/rockchip/rockchip_drm_vop.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/rockchip/rockchip_drm_vop.c
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ static void vop_plane_atomic_update(struct drm_plane *plane,
 	spin_unlock(&vop->reg_lock);
 }
 
-static int vop_plane_atomic_async_check(struct drm_plane *plane,
+static int vop_plane_atomic_amend_check(struct drm_plane *plane,
 					struct drm_plane_state *state)
 {
 	struct vop_win *vop_win = to_vop_win(plane);
@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@ static int vop_plane_atomic_async_check(struct drm_plane *plane,
 						   true, true);
 }
 
-static void vop_plane_atomic_async_update(struct drm_plane *plane,
+static void vop_plane_atomic_amend_update(struct drm_plane *plane,
 					  struct drm_plane_state *new_state)
 {
 	struct vop *vop = to_vop(plane->state->crtc);
@@ -952,8 +952,8 @@ static const struct drm_plane_helper_funcs plane_helper_funcs = {
 	.atomic_check = vop_plane_atomic_check,
 	.atomic_update = vop_plane_atomic_update,
 	.atomic_disable = vop_plane_atomic_disable,
-	.atomic_async_check = vop_plane_atomic_async_check,
-	.atomic_async_update = vop_plane_atomic_async_update,
+	.atomic_amend_check = vop_plane_atomic_amend_check,
+	.atomic_amend_update = vop_plane_atomic_amend_update,
 	.prepare_fb = drm_gem_fb_prepare_fb,
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_kms.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_kms.c
index 295dacc8bcb9..229032b1b315 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_kms.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_kms.c
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ static int vc4_atomic_commit(struct drm_device *dev,
 	struct vc4_dev *vc4 = to_vc4_dev(dev);
 	int ret;
 
-	if (state->async_update) {
+	if (state->amend_update) {
 		ret = down_interruptible(&vc4->async_modeset);
 		if (ret)
 			return ret;
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static int vc4_atomic_commit(struct drm_device *dev,
 			return ret;
 		}
 
-		drm_atomic_helper_async_commit(dev, state);
+		drm_atomic_helper_amend_commit(dev, state);
 
 		drm_atomic_helper_cleanup_planes(dev, state);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_plane.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_plane.c
index 4d918d3e4858..ea560000222d 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_plane.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_plane.c
@@ -1169,8 +1169,12 @@ static const struct drm_plane_helper_funcs vc4_plane_helper_funcs = {
 	.atomic_update = vc4_plane_atomic_update,
 	.prepare_fb = vc4_prepare_fb,
 	.cleanup_fb = vc4_cleanup_fb,
-	.atomic_async_check = vc4_plane_atomic_async_check,
-	.atomic_async_update = vc4_plane_atomic_async_update,
+	/*
+	 * FIXME: ideally, instead of hooking async updates to amend,
+	 * we could avoid tearing by modifying the pending commit.
+	 */
+	.atomic_amend_check = vc4_plane_atomic_async_check,
+	.atomic_amend_update = vc4_plane_atomic_async_update,
 };
 
 static void vc4_plane_destroy(struct drm_plane *plane)
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_atomic.h b/include/drm/drm_atomic.h
index 824a5ed4e216..b1ced069ffc1 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_atomic.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_atomic.h
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ struct __drm_private_objs_state {
  * @ref: count of all references to this state (will not be freed until zero)
  * @dev: parent DRM device
  * @legacy_cursor_update: hint to enforce legacy cursor IOCTL semantics
- * @async_update: hint for asynchronous plane update
+ * @amend_update: hint for amend plane update
  * @planes: pointer to array of structures with per-plane data
  * @crtcs: pointer to array of CRTC pointers
  * @num_connector: size of the @connectors and @connector_states arrays
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ struct drm_atomic_state {
 	 */
 	bool allow_modeset : 1;
 	bool legacy_cursor_update : 1;
-	bool async_update : 1;
+	bool amend_update : 1;
 	/**
 	 * @duplicated:
 	 *
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_atomic_helper.h b/include/drm/drm_atomic_helper.h
index 58214be3bf3d..8ce0594ccfb9 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_atomic_helper.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_atomic_helper.h
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ void drm_atomic_helper_commit_tail_rpm(struct drm_atomic_state *state);
 int drm_atomic_helper_commit(struct drm_device *dev,
 			     struct drm_atomic_state *state,
 			     bool nonblock);
-int drm_atomic_helper_async_check(struct drm_device *dev,
+int drm_atomic_helper_amend_check(struct drm_device *dev,
 				  struct drm_atomic_state *state);
-void drm_atomic_helper_async_commit(struct drm_device *dev,
+void drm_atomic_helper_amend_commit(struct drm_device *dev,
 				    struct drm_atomic_state *state);
 
 int drm_atomic_helper_wait_for_fences(struct drm_device *dev,
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_modeset_helper_vtables.h b/include/drm/drm_modeset_helper_vtables.h
index cfb7be40bed7..d92e62dd76c4 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_modeset_helper_vtables.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_modeset_helper_vtables.h
@@ -1136,53 +1136,55 @@ struct drm_plane_helper_funcs {
 			       struct drm_plane_state *old_state);
 
 	/**
-	 * @atomic_async_check:
+	 * @atomic_amend_check:
 	 *
 	 * Drivers should set this function pointer to check if the plane state
-	 * can be updated in a async fashion. Here async means "not vblank
-	 * synchronized".
+	 * can be updated in amend mode.
+	 * For amend mode definition see :doc: amend mode atomic commit
 	 *
-	 * This hook is called by drm_atomic_async_check() to establish if a
-	 * given update can be committed asynchronously, that is, if it can
+	 * This hook is called by drm_atomic_amend_check() to establish if a
+	 * given update can be committed in amend mode, that is, if it can
 	 * jump ahead of the state currently queued for update.
 	 *
 	 * RETURNS:
 	 *
 	 * Return 0 on success and any error returned indicates that the update
-	 * can not be applied in asynchronous manner.
+	 * can not be applied in amend mode.
 	 */
-	int (*atomic_async_check)(struct drm_plane *plane,
+	int (*atomic_amend_check)(struct drm_plane *plane,
 				  struct drm_plane_state *state);
 
 	/**
-	 * @atomic_async_update:
+	 * @atomic_amend_update:
 	 *
-	 * Drivers should set this function pointer to perform asynchronous
-	 * updates of planes, that is, jump ahead of the currently queued
-	 * state and update the plane. Here async means "not vblank
-	 * synchronized".
+	 * Drivers should set this function pointer to perform amend
+	 * updates of planes.
+	 * The amend feature provides a way to perform 1000 commits, without
+	 * waiting for 1000 vblanks to get the last state applied.
 	 *
-	 * This hook is called by drm_atomic_helper_async_commit().
+	 * For amend mode definition see :doc: amend mode atomic commit
 	 *
-	 * An async update will happen on legacy cursor updates. An async
+	 * This hook is called by drm_atomic_helper_amend_commit().
+	 *
+	 * An amend update will happen on legacy cursor updates. An amend
 	 * update won't happen if there is an outstanding commit modifying
 	 * the same plane.
 	 *
 	 * Note that unlike &drm_plane_helper_funcs.atomic_update this hook
-	 * takes the new &drm_plane_state as parameter. When doing async_update
+	 * takes the new &drm_plane_state as parameter. When doing amend_update
 	 * drivers shouldn't replace the &drm_plane_state but update the
 	 * current one with the new plane configurations in the new
 	 * plane_state.
 	 *
 	 * FIXME:
 	 *  - It only works for single plane updates
-	 *  - Async Pageflips are not supported yet
-	 *  - Some hw might still scan out the old buffer until the next
+	 *  - If hardware don't support asyncronous update to implement amend,
+	 *    some hw might still scan out the old buffer until the next
 	 *    vblank, however we let go of the fb references as soon as
 	 *    we run this hook. For now drivers must implement their own workers
 	 *    for deferring if needed, until a common solution is created.
 	 */
-	void (*atomic_async_update)(struct drm_plane *plane,
+	void (*atomic_amend_update)(struct drm_plane *plane,
 				    struct drm_plane_state *new_state);
 };
 
