diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c
index fb107b24baae..e1dafb0cc5e2 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c
@@ -254,7 +254,6 @@ drm_client_buffer_create(struct drm_client_dev *client, u32 width, u32 height, u
 	struct drm_device *dev = client->dev;
 	struct drm_client_buffer *buffer;
 	struct drm_gem_object *obj;
-	void *vaddr;
 	int ret;
 
 	buffer = kzalloc(sizeof(*buffer), GFP_KERNEL);
@@ -281,12 +280,6 @@ drm_client_buffer_create(struct drm_client_dev *client, u32 width, u32 height, u
 
 	buffer->gem = obj;
 
-	vaddr = drm_client_buffer_vmap(buffer);
-	if (IS_ERR(vaddr)) {
-		ret = PTR_ERR(vaddr);
-		goto err_delete;
-	}
-
 	return buffer;
 
 err_delete:
@@ -305,7 +298,7 @@ err_delete:
  * Client buffer mappings are not ref'counted. Each call to
  * drm_client_buffer_vmap() should be followed by a call to
  * drm_client_buffer_vunmap(); or the client buffer should be mapped
- * throughout its lifetime. The latter is the default.
+ * throughout its lifetime.
  *
  * Returns:
  *	The mapped memory's address
@@ -339,10 +332,9 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_client_buffer_vmap);
  * drm_client_buffer_vunmap - Unmap DRM client buffer
  * @buffer: DRM client buffer
  *
- * This function removes a client buffer's memory mapping. This
- * function is only required by clients that manage their buffers
- * by themselves. By default, DRM client buffers are mapped throughout
- * their entire lifetime.
+ * This function removes a client buffer's memory mapping. Calling this
+ * function is only required by clients that manage their buffer mappings
+ * by themselves.
  */
 void drm_client_buffer_vunmap(struct drm_client_buffer *buffer)
 {
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
index 1984e5c54d58..7ba6a0255821 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@ static void drm_fb_helper_dirty_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct drm_clip_rect *clip = &helper->dirty_clip;
 	struct drm_clip_rect clip_copy;
 	unsigned long flags;
+	void *vaddr;
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&helper->dirty_lock, flags);
 	clip_copy = *clip;
@@ -412,10 +413,18 @@ static void drm_fb_helper_dirty_work(struct work_struct *work)
 
 	/* call dirty callback only when it has been really touched */
 	if (clip_copy.x1 < clip_copy.x2 && clip_copy.y1 < clip_copy.y2) {
+
 		/* Generic fbdev uses a shadow buffer */
-		if (helper->buffer)
+		if (helper->buffer) {
+			vaddr = drm_client_buffer_vmap(helper->buffer);
+			if (IS_ERR(vaddr))
+				return;
 			drm_fb_helper_dirty_blit_real(helper, &clip_copy);
+		}
 		helper->fb->funcs->dirty(helper->fb, NULL, 0, 0, &clip_copy, 1);
+
+		if (helper->buffer)
+			drm_client_buffer_vunmap(helper->buffer);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -2178,6 +2187,7 @@ int drm_fb_helper_generic_probe(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
 	struct drm_framebuffer *fb;
 	struct fb_info *fbi;
 	u32 format;
+	void *vaddr;
 
 	DRM_DEBUG_KMS("surface width(%d), height(%d) and bpp(%d)\n",
 		      sizes->surface_width, sizes->surface_height,
@@ -2200,13 +2210,7 @@ int drm_fb_helper_generic_probe(struct drm_fb_helper *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;
-	/* Shamelessly leak the physical address to user-space */
-#if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_DRM_FBDEV_LEAK_PHYS_SMEM)
-	if (drm_leak_fbdev_smem && fbi->fix.smem_start == 0)
-		fbi->fix.smem_start =
-			page_to_phys(virt_to_page(fbi->screen_buffer));
-#endif
+
 	drm_fb_helper_fill_info(fbi, fb_helper, sizes);
 
 	if (fb->funcs->dirty) {
@@ -2231,6 +2235,19 @@ int drm_fb_helper_generic_probe(struct drm_fb_helper *fb_helper,
 		fbi->fbdefio = &drm_fbdev_defio;
 
 		fb_deferred_io_init(fbi);
+	} else {
+		/* buffer is mapped for HW framebuffer */
+		vaddr = drm_client_buffer_vmap(fb_helper->buffer);
+		if (IS_ERR(vaddr))
+			return PTR_ERR(vaddr);
+
+		fbi->screen_buffer = vaddr;
+		/* Shamelessly leak the physical address to user-space */
+#if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_DRM_FBDEV_LEAK_PHYS_SMEM)
+		if (drm_leak_fbdev_smem && fbi->fix.smem_start == 0)
+			fbi->fix.smem_start =
+				page_to_phys(virt_to_page(fbi->screen_buffer));
+#endif
 	}
 
 	return 0;