diff --git a/drivers/media/platform/ti-vpe/vpdma.c b/drivers/media/platform/ti-vpe/vpdma.c
index c0a4e035bc2a..f85727a0ac44 100644
--- a/drivers/media/platform/ti-vpe/vpdma.c
+++ b/drivers/media/platform/ti-vpe/vpdma.c
@@ -902,6 +902,50 @@ void vpdma_add_in_dtd(struct vpdma_desc_list *list, int width,
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(vpdma_add_in_dtd);
 
+int vpdma_hwlist_alloc(struct vpdma_data *vpdma, void *priv)
+{
+	int i, list_num = -1;
+	unsigned long flags;
+
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&vpdma->lock, flags);
+	for (i = 0; i < VPDMA_MAX_NUM_LIST &&
+	    vpdma->hwlist_used[i] == true; i++)
+		;
+
+	if (i < VPDMA_MAX_NUM_LIST) {
+		list_num = i;
+		vpdma->hwlist_used[i] = true;
+		vpdma->hwlist_priv[i] = priv;
+	}
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&vpdma->lock, flags);
+
+	return list_num;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(vpdma_hwlist_alloc);
+
+void *vpdma_hwlist_get_priv(struct vpdma_data *vpdma, int list_num)
+{
+	if (!vpdma || list_num >= VPDMA_MAX_NUM_LIST)
+		return NULL;
+
+	return vpdma->hwlist_priv[list_num];
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(vpdma_hwlist_get_priv);
+
+void *vpdma_hwlist_release(struct vpdma_data *vpdma, int list_num)
+{
+	void *priv;
+	unsigned long flags;
+
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&vpdma->lock, flags);
+	vpdma->hwlist_used[list_num] = false;
+	priv = vpdma->hwlist_priv;
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&vpdma->lock, flags);
+
+	return priv;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(vpdma_hwlist_release);
+
 /* set or clear the mask for list complete interrupt */
 void vpdma_enable_list_complete_irq(struct vpdma_data *vpdma, int irq_num,
 		int list_num, bool enable)
diff --git a/drivers/media/platform/ti-vpe/vpdma.h b/drivers/media/platform/ti-vpe/vpdma.h
index 65961147e8f7..ccf871ad8800 100644
--- a/drivers/media/platform/ti-vpe/vpdma.h
+++ b/drivers/media/platform/ti-vpe/vpdma.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #ifndef __TI_VPDMA_H_
 #define __TI_VPDMA_H_
 
+#define VPDMA_MAX_NUM_LIST		8
 /*
  * A vpdma_buf tracks the size, DMA address and mapping status of each
  * driver DMA area.
@@ -36,6 +37,8 @@ struct vpdma_data {
 	struct platform_device	*pdev;
 
 	spinlock_t		lock;
+	bool			hwlist_used[VPDMA_MAX_NUM_LIST];
+	void			*hwlist_priv[VPDMA_MAX_NUM_LIST];
 	/* callback to VPE driver when the firmware is loaded */
 	void (*cb)(struct platform_device *pdev);
 };
@@ -215,6 +218,12 @@ bool vpdma_list_busy(struct vpdma_data *vpdma, int list_num);
 void vpdma_update_dma_addr(struct vpdma_data *vpdma,
 	struct vpdma_desc_list *list, dma_addr_t dma_addr,
 	void *write_dtd, int drop, int idx);
+
+/* VPDMA hardware list funcs */
+int vpdma_hwlist_alloc(struct vpdma_data *vpdma, void *priv);
+void *vpdma_hwlist_get_priv(struct vpdma_data *vpdma, int list_num);
+void *vpdma_hwlist_release(struct vpdma_data *vpdma, int list_num);
+
 /* helpers for creating vpdma descriptors */
 void vpdma_add_cfd_block(struct vpdma_desc_list *list, int client,
 		struct vpdma_buf *blk, u32 dest_offset);