diff --git a/drivers/scsi/isci/events.c b/drivers/scsi/isci/events.c
index 8872f4ca6aaa..c5cbaedac041 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/isci/events.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/isci/events.c
@@ -75,35 +75,23 @@
  *    whenever the timer expires.
  * @controller: This parameter specifies the controller with which this timer
  *    is to be associated.
- * @cookie: This parameter specifies a piece of information that the user must
- *    retain.  This cookie is to be supplied by the user anytime a timeout
- *    occurs for the created timer.
+ * @cb_param: opaque callback parameter
  *
  * This method returns a handle to a timer object created by the user.  The
  * handle will be utilized for all further interactions relating to this timer.
  */
-void *isci_event_timer_create(
-	struct scic_sds_controller *controller,
-	void (*timer_callback)(void *),
-	void *cookie)
+void *isci_event_timer_create(struct scic_sds_controller *scic,
+			      void (*timer_callback)(void *),
+			      void *cb_param)
 {
-	struct isci_host *isci_host;
-	struct isci_timer *timer = NULL;
+	struct isci_host *ihost = sci_object_get_association(scic);
+	struct isci_timer *itimer;
 
-	isci_host = (struct isci_host *)sci_object_get_association(controller);
+	itimer = isci_timer_create(ihost, cb_param, timer_callback);
 
-	dev_dbg(&isci_host->pdev->dev,
-		"%s: isci_host = %p",
-		__func__, isci_host);
+	dev_dbg(&ihost->pdev->dev, "%s: timer = %p\n", __func__, itimer);
 
-	timer = isci_timer_create(&isci_host->timer_list_struct,
-				  isci_host,
-				  cookie,
-				  timer_callback);
-
-	dev_dbg(&isci_host->pdev->dev, "%s: timer = %p\n", __func__, timer);
-
-	return (void *)timer;
+	return itimer;
 }
 
 
@@ -146,14 +134,9 @@ void isci_event_timer_start(
  * @timer: This parameter specifies the timer to be stopped.
  *
  */
-void isci_event_timer_stop(
-	struct scic_sds_controller *controller,
-	void *timer)
+void isci_event_timer_stop(struct scic_sds_controller *controller, void *timer)
 {
-	struct isci_host *isci_host;
-
-	isci_host =
-		(struct isci_host *)sci_object_get_association(controller);
+	struct isci_host *isci_host = sci_object_get_association(controller);
 
 	dev_dbg(&isci_host->pdev->dev,
 		"%s: isci_host = %p, timer = %p\n",
@@ -162,6 +145,16 @@ void isci_event_timer_stop(
 	isci_timer_stop((struct isci_timer *)timer);
 }
 
+void isci_event_timer_destroy(struct scic_sds_controller *scic, void *timer)
+{
+        struct isci_host *ihost = sci_object_get_association(scic);
+
+	dev_dbg(&ihost->pdev->dev, "%s: ihost = %p, timer = %p\n",
+			__func__, ihost, timer);
+
+	isci_del_timer(ihost, timer);
+}
+
 /**
  * isci_event_controller_start_complete() - This user callback will inform the
  *    user that the controller has finished the start process. The associated
diff --git a/drivers/scsi/isci/events.h b/drivers/scsi/isci/events.h
index 98526e9fb14a..fa2f6aa1093c 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/isci/events.h
+++ b/drivers/scsi/isci/events.h
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ void isci_event_timer_stop(
 	struct scic_sds_controller *controller,
 	void *timer);
 
+
+void isci_event_timer_destroy(struct scic_sds_controller *scic, void *timer);
+
 /**
  * isci_event_controller_start_complete() - This user callback will inform the
  *    user that the controller has finished the start process.
diff --git a/drivers/scsi/isci/host.c b/drivers/scsi/isci/host.c
index d8d6f67bd69c..1bc91f2b4f93 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/isci/host.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/isci/host.c
@@ -349,9 +349,14 @@ void isci_host_deinit(struct isci_host *ihost)
 	}
 
 	set_bit(IHOST_STOP_PENDING, &ihost->flags);
+
+	spin_lock_irq(&ihost->scic_lock);
 	scic_controller_stop(scic, SCIC_CONTROLLER_STOP_TIMEOUT);
+	spin_unlock_irq(&ihost->scic_lock);
+
 	wait_for_stop(ihost);
 	scic_controller_reset(scic);
+	isci_timer_list_destroy(ihost);
 }
 
 static void __iomem *scu_base(struct isci_host *isci_host)
@@ -370,8 +375,6 @@ static void __iomem *smu_base(struct isci_host *isci_host)
 	return pcim_iomap_table(pdev)[SCI_SMU_BAR * 2] + SCI_SMU_BAR_SIZE * id;
 }
 
-#define SCI_MAX_TIMER_COUNT 25
-
 int isci_host_init(struct isci_host *isci_host)
 {
 	int err = 0;
@@ -382,11 +385,7 @@ int isci_host_init(struct isci_host *isci_host)
 	union scic_oem_parameters scic_oem_params;
 	union scic_user_parameters scic_user_params;
 
-	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&isci_host->timer_list_struct.timers);
-	isci_timer_list_construct(
-		&isci_host->timer_list_struct,
-		SCI_MAX_TIMER_COUNT
-		);
+	isci_timer_list_construct(isci_host);
 
 	controller = scic_controller_alloc(&isci_host->pdev->dev);
 
@@ -473,15 +472,6 @@ int isci_host_init(struct isci_host *isci_host)
 		}
 	}
 
-	status = scic_controller_initialize(isci_host->core_controller);
-	if (status != SCI_SUCCESS) {
-		dev_warn(&isci_host->pdev->dev,
-			 "%s: scic_controller_initialize failed -"
-			 " status = 0x%x\n",
-			 __func__, status);
-		return -ENODEV;
-	}
-
 	tasklet_init(&isci_host->completion_tasklet,
 		     isci_host_completion_routine, (unsigned long)isci_host);
 
@@ -490,9 +480,19 @@ int isci_host_init(struct isci_host *isci_host)
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&isci_host->requests_to_complete);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&isci_host->requests_to_abort);
 
+	spin_lock_irq(&isci_host->scic_lock);
+	status = scic_controller_initialize(isci_host->core_controller);
+	spin_unlock_irq(&isci_host->scic_lock);
+	if (status != SCI_SUCCESS) {
+		dev_warn(&isci_host->pdev->dev,
+			 "%s: scic_controller_initialize failed -"
+			 " status = 0x%x\n",
+			 __func__, status);
+		return -ENODEV;
+	}
+
 	/* populate mdl with dma memory. scu_mdl_allocate_coherent() */
 	err = isci_host_mdl_allocate_coherent(isci_host);
-
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 
diff --git a/drivers/scsi/isci/host.h b/drivers/scsi/isci/host.h
index b794dfd0819e..ef3e7d1440b0 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/isci/host.h
+++ b/drivers/scsi/isci/host.h
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ struct isci_host {
 	union scic_oem_parameters oem_parameters;
 
 	int id; /* unique within a given pci device */
-	struct isci_timer_list timer_list_struct;
+	struct list_head timers;
 	void *core_ctrl_memory;
 	struct dma_pool *dma_pool;
 	unsigned int dma_pool_alloc_size;
diff --git a/drivers/scsi/isci/task.c b/drivers/scsi/isci/task.c
index 6f98f6c74efb..232125eab523 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/isci/task.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/isci/task.c
@@ -475,14 +475,8 @@ int isci_task_execute_tmf(
 	}
 
 	/* Allocate the TMF timeout timer. */
-	tmf->timeout_timer = isci_timer_create(
-		&isci_host->timer_list_struct,
-		isci_host,
-		request,
-		isci_tmf_timeout_cb
-		);
-
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&isci_host->scic_lock, flags);
+	tmf->timeout_timer = isci_timer_create(isci_host, request, isci_tmf_timeout_cb);
 
 	/* Start the timer. */
 	if (tmf->timeout_timer)
@@ -557,9 +551,7 @@ int isci_task_execute_tmf(
 
 	/* Clean up the timer if needed. */
 	if (tmf->timeout_timer) {
-		isci_timer_stop(tmf->timeout_timer);
-		isci_timer_free(&isci_host->timer_list_struct,
-				tmf->timeout_timer);
+		isci_del_timer(isci_host, tmf->timeout_timer);
 		tmf->timeout_timer = NULL;
 	}
 
@@ -1468,10 +1460,7 @@ void isci_task_request_complete(
 
 	/* Manage the timer if it is still running. */
 	if (tmf->timeout_timer) {
-
-		isci_timer_stop(tmf->timeout_timer);
-		isci_timer_free(&isci_host->timer_list_struct,
-				tmf->timeout_timer);
+		isci_del_timer(isci_host, tmf->timeout_timer);
 		tmf->timeout_timer = NULL;
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/scsi/isci/timers.c b/drivers/scsi/isci/timers.c
index ca723089ee88..f33eff00dc01 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/isci/timers.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/isci/timers.c
@@ -56,96 +56,59 @@
 #include "isci.h"
 #include "timers.h"
 
-
 /**
  * isci_timer_list_construct() - This method contrucst the SCI Timer List
  *    object used by the SCI Module class. The construction process involves
  *    creating isci_timer objects and adding them to the SCI Timer List
  *    object's list member. The number of isci_timer objects is determined by
  *    the timer_list_size parameter.
- * @isci_timer_list: This parameter points to the SCI Timer List object being
- *    constructed. The calling routine is responsible for allocating the memory
- *    for isci_timer_list and initializing the timer list_head member of
- *    isci_timer_list.
- * @timer_list_size: This parameter specifies the number of isci_timer objects
- *    contained by the SCI Timer List. which this timer is to be associated.
+ * @ihost: container of the timer list
  *
  * This method returns an error code indicating sucess or failure. The user
  * should check for possible memory allocation error return otherwise, a zero
  * indicates success.
  */
-int isci_timer_list_construct(
-	struct isci_timer_list *isci_timer_list,
-	int timer_list_size)
+int isci_timer_list_construct(struct isci_host *ihost)
 {
-	struct isci_timer *isci_timer;
-	int i;
-	int err = 0;
+	struct isci_timer *itimer;
+	int i, err = 0;
 
+	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&ihost->timers);
+	for (i = 0; i < SCI_MAX_TIMER_COUNT; i++) {
+		itimer = devm_kzalloc(&ihost->pdev->dev, sizeof(*itimer), GFP_KERNEL);
 
-	for (i = 0; i < timer_list_size; i++) {
-
-		isci_timer = kzalloc(sizeof(*isci_timer), GFP_KERNEL);
-
-		if (!isci_timer) {
-
+		if (!itimer) {
 			err = -ENOMEM;
 			break;
 		}
-		isci_timer->used = 0;
-		isci_timer->stopped = 1;
-		isci_timer->parent = isci_timer_list;
-		list_add(&isci_timer->node, &isci_timer_list->timers);
+		init_timer(&itimer->timer);
+		itimer->used = 0;
+		itimer->stopped = 1;
+		list_add(&itimer->node, &ihost->timers);
 	}
 
-	return 0;
-
+	return err;
 }
 
-
 /**
  * isci_timer_list_destroy() - This method destroys the SCI Timer List object
  *    used by the SCI Module class. The destruction  process involves freeing
  *    memory allocated for isci_timer objects on the SCI Timer List object's
  *    timers list_head member. If any isci_timer objects are mark as "in use",
  *    they are not freed and the function returns an error code of -EBUSY.
- * @isci_timer_list: This parameter points to the SCI Timer List object being
- *    destroyed.
- *
- * This method returns an error code indicating sucess or failure. The user
- * should check for possible -EBUSY error return, in the event of one or more
- * isci_timers still "in use", otherwise, a zero indicates success.
+ * @ihost: container of the list to be destroyed
  */
-int isci_timer_list_destroy(
-	struct isci_timer_list *isci_timer_list)
+void isci_timer_list_destroy(struct isci_host *ihost)
 {
-	struct isci_timer *timer, *tmp;
+	struct isci_timer *timer;
+	LIST_HEAD(list);
 
-	list_for_each_entry_safe(timer, tmp, &isci_timer_list->timers, node) {
-		isci_timer_free(isci_timer_list, timer);
-		list_del(&timer->node);
-		kfree(timer);
-	}
-	return 0;
-}
+	spin_lock_irq(&ihost->scic_lock);
+	list_splice_init(&ihost->timers, &list);
+	spin_unlock_irq(&ihost->scic_lock);
 
-
-
-static void isci_timer_restart(struct isci_timer *isci_timer)
-{
-	struct timer_list *timer =
-		&isci_timer->timer;
-	unsigned long timeout;
-
-	dev_dbg(&isci_timer->isci_host->pdev->dev,
-		"%s: isci_timer = %p\n", __func__, isci_timer);
-
-	isci_timer->restart = 0;
-	isci_timer->stopped = 0;
-	timeout = isci_timer->timeout_value;
-	timeout = (timeout * HZ) / 1000;
-	timeout = timeout ? timeout : 1;
-	mod_timer(timer, jiffies + timeout);
+	list_for_each_entry(timer, &list, node)
+		del_timer_sync(&timer->timer);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -169,7 +132,7 @@ static void isci_timer_restart(struct isci_timer *isci_timer)
 static void timer_function(unsigned long data)
 {
 
-	struct isci_timer *timer     = (struct isci_timer *)data;
+	struct isci_timer *timer = (struct isci_timer *)data;
 	struct isci_host *isci_host = timer->isci_host;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
@@ -185,89 +148,66 @@ static void timer_function(unsigned long data)
 
 	if (!timer->stopped) {
 		timer->stopped = 1;
-		timer->timer_callback(timer->cookie);
-
-		if (timer->restart)
-			isci_timer_restart(timer);
+		timer->timer_callback(timer->cb_param);
 	}
 
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&isci_host->scic_lock, flags);
 }
 
 
-struct isci_timer *isci_timer_create(
-	struct isci_timer_list *isci_timer_list,
-	struct isci_host *isci_host,
-	void *cookie,
-	void (*timer_callback)(void *))
+struct isci_timer *isci_timer_create(struct isci_host *ihost, void *cb_param,
+				     void (*timer_callback)(void *))
 {
-
 	struct timer_list *timer;
 	struct isci_timer *isci_timer;
-	struct list_head *timer_list =
-		&isci_timer_list->timers;
-	unsigned long flags;
+	struct list_head *list = &ihost->timers;
 
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&isci_host->scic_lock, flags);
+	WARN_ONCE(!spin_is_locked(&ihost->scic_lock),
+		  "%s: unlocked!\n", __func__);
 
-	if (list_empty(timer_list)) {
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&isci_host->scic_lock, flags);
+	if (WARN_ONCE(list_empty(list), "%s: timer pool empty\n", __func__))
 		return NULL;
-	}
 
-	isci_timer = list_entry(timer_list->next, struct isci_timer, node);
+	isci_timer = list_entry(list->next, struct isci_timer, node);
 
-	if (isci_timer->used) {
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&isci_host->scic_lock, flags);
-		return NULL;
-	}
 	isci_timer->used = 1;
 	isci_timer->stopped = 1;
-	list_move_tail(&isci_timer->node, timer_list);
-
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&isci_host->scic_lock, flags);
+	/* FIXME: what!? we recycle the timer, rather than take it off
+	 * the free list?
+	 */
+	list_move_tail(&isci_timer->node, list);
 
 	timer = &isci_timer->timer;
 	timer->data = (unsigned long)isci_timer;
 	timer->function = timer_function;
-	isci_timer->cookie = cookie;
+	isci_timer->cb_param = cb_param;
 	isci_timer->timer_callback = timer_callback;
-	isci_timer->isci_host = isci_host;
+	isci_timer->isci_host = ihost;
 
-	dev_dbg(&isci_host->pdev->dev,
+	dev_dbg(&ihost->pdev->dev,
 		"%s: isci_timer = %p\n", __func__, isci_timer);
 
 	return isci_timer;
 }
 
-/**
- * isci_timer_free() - This method frees the isci_timer, marking it "free to
+/* isci_del_timer() - This method frees the isci_timer, marking it "free to
  *    use", then places its back at the head of the timers list for the SCI
  *    Timer List object specified.
- * @isci_timer_list: This parameter points to the SCI Timer List from which the
- *    timer is reserved.
- * @isci_timer: This parameter specifies the timer to be freed.
- *
  */
-void isci_timer_free(
-	struct isci_timer_list *isci_timer_list,
-	struct isci_timer *isci_timer)
+void isci_del_timer(struct isci_host *ihost, struct isci_timer *isci_timer)
 {
-	struct list_head *timer_list = &isci_timer_list->timers;
+	struct list_head *list = &ihost->timers;
+
+	WARN_ONCE(!spin_is_locked(&ihost->scic_lock),
+		  "%s unlocked!\n", __func__);
 
 	dev_dbg(&isci_timer->isci_host->pdev->dev,
 		"%s: isci_timer = %p\n", __func__, isci_timer);
 
-	if (list_empty(timer_list))
-		return;
-
 	isci_timer->used = 0;
-	list_move(&isci_timer->node, timer_list);
-
-	if (!isci_timer->stopped) {
-		del_timer(&isci_timer->timer);
-		isci_timer->stopped = 1;
-	}
+	list_move(&isci_timer->node, list);
+	del_timer(&isci_timer->timer);
+	isci_timer->stopped = 1;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -278,26 +218,15 @@ void isci_timer_free(
  *    the associated callback function will be called.
  *
  */
-void isci_timer_start(
-	struct isci_timer *isci_timer,
-	unsigned long timeout)
+void isci_timer_start(struct isci_timer *isci_timer, unsigned long tmo)
 {
 	struct timer_list *timer = &isci_timer->timer;
 
 	dev_dbg(&isci_timer->isci_host->pdev->dev,
 		"%s: isci_timer = %p\n", __func__, isci_timer);
 
-	isci_timer->timeout_value = timeout;
-	init_timer(timer);
-	timeout = (timeout * HZ) / 1000;
-	timeout = timeout ? timeout : 1;
-
-	timer->expires = jiffies + timeout;
-	timer->data = (unsigned long)isci_timer;
-	timer->function = timer_function;
 	isci_timer->stopped = 0;
-	isci_timer->restart = 0;
-	add_timer(timer);
+	mod_timer(timer, jiffies + msecs_to_jiffies(tmo));
 }
 
 /**
@@ -310,10 +239,6 @@ void isci_timer_stop(struct isci_timer *isci_timer)
 	dev_dbg(&isci_timer->isci_host->pdev->dev,
 		"%s: isci_timer = %p\n", __func__, isci_timer);
 
-	if (isci_timer->stopped)
-		return;
-
 	isci_timer->stopped = 1;
-
 	del_timer(&isci_timer->timer);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/scsi/isci/timers.h b/drivers/scsi/isci/timers.h
index ca5c2159a1c2..8d8a892ad7f2 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/isci/timers.h
+++ b/drivers/scsi/isci/timers.h
@@ -59,68 +59,30 @@
 #include <linux/timer.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
 
-/***************************************************
- * isci_timer
- ***************************************************
- */
-/**
- * struct isci_timer_list - This class is the container for all isci_timer
- *    objects
- *
- *
- */
-struct isci_timer_list {
-
-	struct list_head timers;
-};
+#define SCI_MAX_TIMER_COUNT 25
 
 /**
  * struct isci_timer - This class represents the timer object used by SCIC. It
- *    wraps the Linux timer_list object.
- *
+ *    wraps the Linux timer_list object, and (TODO) should be removed in favor
+ *    of a delayed-workqueue style interface with simpler locking
  *
  */
 struct isci_timer {
 	int used;
 	int stopped;
-	int restart;
-	int timeout_value;
-	void *cookie;
+	void *cb_param;
 	void (*timer_callback)(void *);
 	struct list_head node;
 	struct timer_list timer;
-	struct isci_timer_list *parent;
 	struct isci_host *isci_host;
 };
 
-#define to_isci_timer(t)	\
-	container_of(t, struct isci_timer, timer);
-
-int isci_timer_list_construct(
-	struct isci_timer_list *isci_timer_list,
-	int timer_list_size);
-
-
-int isci_timer_list_destroy(
-	struct isci_timer_list *isci_timer_list);
-
-struct isci_timer *isci_timer_create(
-	struct isci_timer_list *isci_timer_list,
-	struct isci_host *isci_host,
-	void *cookie,
-	void (*timer_callback)(void *));
-
-void isci_timer_free(
-	struct isci_timer_list *isci_timer_list,
-	struct isci_timer *isci_timer);
-
-void isci_timer_start(
-	struct isci_timer *isci_timer,
-	unsigned long timeout);
-
-void isci_timer_stop(
-	struct isci_timer *isci_timer);
-
+int isci_timer_list_construct(struct isci_host *ihost);
+void isci_timer_list_destroy(struct isci_host *ihost);
+struct isci_timer *isci_timer_create(struct isci_host *ihost, void *cb_param,
+				     void (*timer_callback)(void *));
+void isci_del_timer(struct isci_host *ihost, struct isci_timer *itimer);
+void isci_timer_start(struct isci_timer *isci_timer, unsigned long timeout);
+void isci_timer_stop(struct isci_timer *isci_timer);
 
 #endif /* !defined (_SCI_TIMER_H_) */
-