diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c
index f6292ba0e6fc..037e36f2049c 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c
@@ -122,13 +122,34 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_client_init);
  * drm_client_register() it is no longer permissible to call drm_client_release()
  * directly (outside the unregister callback), instead cleanup will happen
  * automatically on driver unload.
+ *
+ * Registering a client generates a hotplug event that allows the client
+ * to set up its display from pre-existing outputs. The client must have
+ * initialized its state to able to handle the hotplug event successfully.
  */
 void drm_client_register(struct drm_client_dev *client)
 {
 	struct drm_device *dev = client->dev;
+	int ret;
 
 	mutex_lock(&dev->clientlist_mutex);
 	list_add(&client->list, &dev->clientlist);
+
+	if (client->funcs && client->funcs->hotplug) {
+		/*
+		 * Perform an initial hotplug event to pick up the
+		 * display configuration for the client. This step
+		 * has to be performed *after* registering the client
+		 * in the list of clients, or a concurrent hotplug
+		 * event might be lost; leaving the display off.
+		 *
+		 * Hold the clientlist_mutex as for a regular hotplug
+		 * event.
+		 */
+		ret = client->funcs->hotplug(client);
+		if (ret)
+			drm_dbg_kms(dev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
+	}
 	mutex_unlock(&dev->clientlist_mutex);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_client_register);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fbdev_dma.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fbdev_dma.c
index 728deffcc0d9..ce85b30d585e 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fbdev_dma.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fbdev_dma.c
@@ -253,10 +253,6 @@ void drm_fbdev_dma_setup(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int preferred_bpp)
 		goto err_drm_client_init;
 	}
 
-	ret = drm_fbdev_dma_client_hotplug(&fb_helper->client);
-	if (ret)
-		drm_dbg_kms(dev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
-
 	drm_client_register(&fb_helper->client);
 
 	return;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fbdev_generic.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fbdev_generic.c
index 8e5148bf40bb..7e65be35477e 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fbdev_generic.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fbdev_generic.c
@@ -340,10 +340,6 @@ void drm_fbdev_generic_setup(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned int preferred_bpp)
 		goto err_drm_client_init;
 	}
 
-	ret = drm_fbdev_generic_client_hotplug(&fb_helper->client);
-	if (ret)
-		drm_dbg_kms(dev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
-
 	drm_client_register(&fb_helper->client);
 
 	return;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_fbdev.c
index ea4b3d248aac..cc98168a7a5e 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/exynos/exynos_drm_fbdev.c
@@ -216,10 +216,6 @@ void exynos_drm_fbdev_setup(struct drm_device *dev)
 	if (ret)
 		goto err_drm_client_init;
 
-	ret = exynos_drm_fbdev_client_hotplug(&fb_helper->client);
-	if (ret)
-		drm_dbg_kms(dev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
-
 	drm_client_register(&fb_helper->client);
 
 	return;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/gma500/fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/gma500/fbdev.c
index 62287407e717..ba193c5bb35e 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/gma500/fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/gma500/fbdev.c
@@ -330,10 +330,6 @@ void psb_fbdev_setup(struct drm_psb_private *dev_priv)
 		goto err_drm_fb_helper_unprepare;
 	}
 
-	ret = psb_fbdev_client_hotplug(&fb_helper->client);
-	if (ret)
-		drm_dbg_kms(dev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
-
 	drm_client_register(&fb_helper->client);
 
 	return;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/msm_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/msm_fbdev.c
index 2ebc86381e1c..c082646c3c0b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/msm_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/msm_fbdev.c
@@ -227,10 +227,6 @@ void msm_fbdev_setup(struct drm_device *dev)
 		goto err_drm_fb_helper_unprepare;
 	}
 
-	ret = msm_fbdev_client_hotplug(&helper->client);
-	if (ret)
-		drm_dbg_kms(dev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
-
 	drm_client_register(&helper->client);
 
 	return;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
index b950e93b3846..02cec22b9749 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
@@ -323,10 +323,6 @@ void omap_fbdev_setup(struct drm_device *dev)
 
 	INIT_WORK(&fbdev->work, pan_worker);
 
-	ret = omap_fbdev_client_hotplug(&helper->client);
-	if (ret)
-		drm_dbg_kms(dev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
-
 	drm_client_register(&helper->client);
 
 	return;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_fbdev.c
index 8f6c3aef0962..8b93e6e5d2ff 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_fbdev.c
@@ -386,10 +386,6 @@ void radeon_fbdev_setup(struct radeon_device *rdev)
 		goto err_drm_client_init;
 	}
 
-	ret = radeon_fbdev_client_hotplug(&fb_helper->client);
-	if (ret)
-		drm_dbg_kms(rdev->ddev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
-
 	drm_client_register(&fb_helper->client);
 
 	return;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/tegra/fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/tegra/fbdev.c
index dca9eccae466..d527b0b9de1d 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/tegra/fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/tegra/fbdev.c
@@ -227,10 +227,6 @@ void tegra_fbdev_setup(struct drm_device *dev)
 	if (ret)
 		goto err_drm_client_init;
 
-	ret = tegra_fbdev_client_hotplug(&helper->client);
-	if (ret)
-		drm_dbg_kms(dev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
-
 	drm_client_register(&helper->client);
 
 	return;
