diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_overlay.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_overlay.c
index 29edfc343716..5efef9babadb 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_overlay.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/display/intel_overlay.c
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ alloc_request(struct intel_overlay *overlay, void (*fn)(struct intel_overlay *))
 	if (IS_ERR(rq))
 		return rq;
 
-	err = i915_active_ref(&overlay->last_flip, rq->timeline, rq);
+	err = i915_active_add_request(&overlay->last_flip, rq);
 	if (err) {
 		i915_request_add(rq);
 		return ERR_PTR(err);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gem/i915_gem_client_blt.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gem/i915_gem_client_blt.c
index f99920652751..7f61a8024133 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gem/i915_gem_client_blt.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gem/i915_gem_client_blt.c
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ static void clear_pages_worker(struct work_struct *work)
 	 * keep track of the GPU activity within this vma/request, and
 	 * propagate the signal from the request to w->dma.
 	 */
-	err = i915_active_ref(&vma->active, rq->timeline, rq);
+	err = i915_active_add_request(&vma->active, rq);
 	if (err)
 		goto out_request;
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gem/i915_gem_context.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gem/i915_gem_context.c
index f1c0e5d958f3..4a34c4f62065 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gem/i915_gem_context.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gem/i915_gem_context.c
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ static int context_barrier_task(struct i915_gem_context *ctx,
 		if (emit)
 			err = emit(rq, data);
 		if (err == 0)
-			err = i915_active_ref(&cb->base, rq->timeline, rq);
+			err = i915_active_add_request(&cb->base, rq);
 
 		i915_request_add(rq);
 		if (err)
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.c
index c0495811f493..26cb838c272c 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_context.c
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ int intel_context_prepare_remote_request(struct intel_context *ce,
 	/* Only suitable for use in remotely modifying this context */
 	GEM_BUG_ON(rq->hw_context == ce);
 
-	if (rq->timeline != tl) { /* beware timeline sharing */
+	if (rcu_access_pointer(rq->timeline) != tl) { /* timeline sharing! */
 		err = mutex_lock_interruptible_nested(&tl->mutex,
 						      SINGLE_DEPTH_NESTING);
 		if (err)
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ int intel_context_prepare_remote_request(struct intel_context *ce,
 	 * words transfer the pinned ce object to tracked active request.
 	 */
 	GEM_BUG_ON(i915_active_is_idle(&ce->active));
-	return i915_active_ref(&ce->active, rq->timeline, rq);
+	return i915_active_add_request(&ce->active, rq);
 }
 
 struct i915_request *intel_context_create_request(struct intel_context *ce)
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_cs.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_cs.c
index 3c176b0f4b45..f451d5076bde 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_cs.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_cs.c
@@ -680,6 +680,8 @@ static int measure_breadcrumb_dw(struct intel_engine_cs *engine)
 				engine->status_page.vma))
 		goto out_frame;
 
+	mutex_lock(&frame->timeline.mutex);
+
 	frame->ring.vaddr = frame->cs;
 	frame->ring.size = sizeof(frame->cs);
 	frame->ring.effective_size = frame->ring.size;
@@ -688,18 +690,22 @@ static int measure_breadcrumb_dw(struct intel_engine_cs *engine)
 	frame->rq.i915 = engine->i915;
 	frame->rq.engine = engine;
 	frame->rq.ring = &frame->ring;
-	frame->rq.timeline = &frame->timeline;
+	rcu_assign_pointer(frame->rq.timeline, &frame->timeline);
 
 	dw = intel_timeline_pin(&frame->timeline);
 	if (dw < 0)
 		goto out_timeline;
 
+	spin_lock_irq(&engine->active.lock);
 	dw = engine->emit_fini_breadcrumb(&frame->rq, frame->cs) - frame->cs;
+	spin_unlock_irq(&engine->active.lock);
+
 	GEM_BUG_ON(dw & 1); /* RING_TAIL must be qword aligned */
 
 	intel_timeline_unpin(&frame->timeline);
 
 out_timeline:
+	mutex_unlock(&frame->timeline.mutex);
 	intel_timeline_fini(&frame->timeline);
 out_frame:
 	kfree(frame);
@@ -1196,6 +1202,27 @@ static void hexdump(struct drm_printer *m, const void *buf, size_t len)
 	}
 }
 
+static struct intel_timeline *get_timeline(struct i915_request *rq)
+{
+	struct intel_timeline *tl;
+
+	/*
+	 * Even though we are holding the engine->active.lock here, there
+	 * is no control over the submission queue per-se and we are
+	 * inspecting the active state at a random point in time, with an
+	 * unknown queue. Play safe and make sure the timeline remains valid.
+	 * (Only being used for pretty printing, one extra kref shouldn't
+	 * cause a camel stampede!)
+	 */
+	rcu_read_lock();
+	tl = rcu_dereference(rq->timeline);
+	if (!kref_get_unless_zero(&tl->kref))
+		tl = NULL;
+	rcu_read_unlock();
+
+	return tl;
+}
+
 static void intel_engine_print_registers(struct intel_engine_cs *engine,
 					 struct drm_printer *m)
 {
@@ -1290,27 +1317,37 @@ static void intel_engine_print_registers(struct intel_engine_cs *engine,
 			int len;
 
 			len = snprintf(hdr, sizeof(hdr),
-				       "\t\tActive[%d: ",
+				       "\t\tActive[%d]: ",
 				       (int)(port - execlists->active));
-			if (!i915_request_signaled(rq))
+			if (!i915_request_signaled(rq)) {
+				struct intel_timeline *tl = get_timeline(rq);
+
 				len += snprintf(hdr + len, sizeof(hdr) - len,
 						"ring:{start:%08x, hwsp:%08x, seqno:%08x}, ",
 						i915_ggtt_offset(rq->ring->vma),
-						rq->timeline->hwsp_offset,
+						tl ? tl->hwsp_offset : 0,
 						hwsp_seqno(rq));
+
+				if (tl)
+					intel_timeline_put(tl);
+			}
 			snprintf(hdr + len, sizeof(hdr) - len, "rq: ");
 			print_request(m, rq, hdr);
 		}
 		for (port = execlists->pending; (rq = *port); port++) {
+			struct intel_timeline *tl = get_timeline(rq);
 			char hdr[80];
 
 			snprintf(hdr, sizeof(hdr),
 				 "\t\tPending[%d] ring:{start:%08x, hwsp:%08x, seqno:%08x}, rq: ",
 				 (int)(port - execlists->pending),
 				 i915_ggtt_offset(rq->ring->vma),
-				 rq->timeline->hwsp_offset,
+				 tl ? tl->hwsp_offset : 0,
 				 hwsp_seqno(rq));
 			print_request(m, rq, hdr);
+
+			if (tl)
+				intel_timeline_put(tl);
 		}
 		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&engine->active.lock, flags);
 	} else if (INTEL_GEN(dev_priv) > 6) {
@@ -1388,6 +1425,8 @@ void intel_engine_dump(struct intel_engine_cs *engine,
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&engine->active.lock, flags);
 	rq = intel_engine_find_active_request(engine);
 	if (rq) {
+		struct intel_timeline *tl = get_timeline(rq);
+
 		print_request(m, rq, "\t\tactive ");
 
 		drm_printf(m, "\t\tring->start:  0x%08x\n",
@@ -1400,8 +1439,12 @@ void intel_engine_dump(struct intel_engine_cs *engine,
 			   rq->ring->emit);
 		drm_printf(m, "\t\tring->space:  0x%08x\n",
 			   rq->ring->space);
-		drm_printf(m, "\t\tring->hwsp:   0x%08x\n",
-			   rq->timeline->hwsp_offset);
+
+		if (tl) {
+			drm_printf(m, "\t\tring->hwsp:   0x%08x\n",
+				   tl->hwsp_offset);
+			intel_timeline_put(tl);
+		}
 
 		print_request_ring(m, rq);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_pm.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_pm.c
index 65b5ca74b394..ce61c83d68e9 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_pm.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_pm.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ static bool switch_to_kernel_context(struct intel_engine_cs *engine)
 		/* Context switch failed, hope for the best! Maybe reset? */
 		goto out_unlock;
 
-	intel_timeline_enter(rq->timeline);
+	intel_timeline_enter(i915_request_timeline(rq));
 
 	/* Check again on the next retirement. */
 	engine->wakeref_serial = engine->serial + 1;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_pool.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_pool.h
index 7e2123b33594..1bd89cadc3b7 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_pool.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_engine_pool.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ static inline int
 intel_engine_pool_mark_active(struct intel_engine_pool_node *node,
 			      struct i915_request *rq)
 {
-	return i915_active_ref(&node->active, rq->timeline, rq);
+	return i915_active_add_request(&node->active, rq);
 }
 
 static inline void
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_lrc.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_lrc.c
index 49ed9230a2cb..1a2b71157f08 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_lrc.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_lrc.c
@@ -1825,7 +1825,7 @@ static int gen8_emit_init_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *rq)
 {
 	u32 *cs;
 
-	GEM_BUG_ON(!rq->timeline->has_initial_breadcrumb);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(!i915_request_timeline(rq)->has_initial_breadcrumb);
 
 	cs = intel_ring_begin(rq, 6);
 	if (IS_ERR(cs))
@@ -1841,7 +1841,7 @@ static int gen8_emit_init_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *rq)
 	*cs++ = MI_NOOP;
 
 	*cs++ = MI_STORE_DWORD_IMM_GEN4 | MI_USE_GGTT;
-	*cs++ = rq->timeline->hwsp_offset;
+	*cs++ = i915_request_timeline(rq)->hwsp_offset;
 	*cs++ = 0;
 	*cs++ = rq->fence.seqno - 1;
 
@@ -2324,7 +2324,8 @@ static void reset_csb_pointers(struct intel_engine_cs *engine)
 
 static struct i915_request *active_request(struct i915_request *rq)
 {
-	const struct list_head * const list = &rq->timeline->requests;
+	const struct list_head * const list =
+		&i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->requests;
 	const struct intel_context * const ce = rq->hw_context;
 	struct i915_request *active = NULL;
 
@@ -2927,7 +2928,7 @@ static u32 *gen8_emit_fini_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *request, u32 *cs)
 {
 	cs = gen8_emit_ggtt_write(cs,
 				  request->fence.seqno,
-				  request->timeline->hwsp_offset,
+				  i915_request_active_timeline(request)->hwsp_offset,
 				  0);
 
 	return gen8_emit_fini_breadcrumb_footer(request, cs);
@@ -2944,7 +2945,7 @@ static u32 *gen8_emit_fini_breadcrumb_rcs(struct i915_request *request, u32 *cs)
 	/* XXX flush+write+CS_STALL all in one upsets gem_concurrent_blt:kbl */
 	cs = gen8_emit_ggtt_write_rcs(cs,
 				      request->fence.seqno,
-				      request->timeline->hwsp_offset,
+				      i915_request_active_timeline(request)->hwsp_offset,
 				      PIPE_CONTROL_FLUSH_ENABLE |
 				      PIPE_CONTROL_CS_STALL);
 
@@ -2956,7 +2957,7 @@ gen11_emit_fini_breadcrumb_rcs(struct i915_request *request, u32 *cs)
 {
 	cs = gen8_emit_ggtt_write_rcs(cs,
 				      request->fence.seqno,
-				      request->timeline->hwsp_offset,
+				      i915_request_active_timeline(request)->hwsp_offset,
 				      PIPE_CONTROL_CS_STALL |
 				      PIPE_CONTROL_TILE_CACHE_FLUSH |
 				      PIPE_CONTROL_RENDER_TARGET_CACHE_FLUSH |
@@ -3020,7 +3021,7 @@ static u32 *gen12_emit_fini_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *request, u32 *cs)
 {
 	cs = gen8_emit_ggtt_write(cs,
 				  request->fence.seqno,
-				  request->timeline->hwsp_offset,
+				  i915_request_active_timeline(request)->hwsp_offset,
 				  0);
 
 	return gen12_emit_fini_breadcrumb_footer(request, cs);
@@ -3031,7 +3032,7 @@ gen12_emit_fini_breadcrumb_rcs(struct i915_request *request, u32 *cs)
 {
 	cs = gen8_emit_ggtt_write_rcs(cs,
 				      request->fence.seqno,
-				      request->timeline->hwsp_offset,
+				      i915_request_active_timeline(request)->hwsp_offset,
 				      PIPE_CONTROL_CS_STALL |
 				      PIPE_CONTROL_TILE_CACHE_FLUSH |
 				      PIPE_CONTROL_RENDER_TARGET_CACHE_FLUSH |
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_ringbuffer.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_ringbuffer.c
index a25b84b12ef1..0747b8c9f768 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_ringbuffer.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_ringbuffer.c
@@ -322,7 +322,8 @@ static u32 *gen6_rcs_emit_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *rq, u32 *cs)
 		 PIPE_CONTROL_DC_FLUSH_ENABLE |
 		 PIPE_CONTROL_QW_WRITE |
 		 PIPE_CONTROL_CS_STALL);
-	*cs++ = rq->timeline->hwsp_offset | PIPE_CONTROL_GLOBAL_GTT;
+	*cs++ = i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->hwsp_offset |
+		PIPE_CONTROL_GLOBAL_GTT;
 	*cs++ = rq->fence.seqno;
 
 	*cs++ = MI_USER_INTERRUPT;
@@ -425,7 +426,7 @@ static u32 *gen7_rcs_emit_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *rq, u32 *cs)
 		 PIPE_CONTROL_QW_WRITE |
 		 PIPE_CONTROL_GLOBAL_GTT_IVB |
 		 PIPE_CONTROL_CS_STALL);
-	*cs++ = rq->timeline->hwsp_offset;
+	*cs++ = i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->hwsp_offset;
 	*cs++ = rq->fence.seqno;
 
 	*cs++ = MI_USER_INTERRUPT;
@@ -439,8 +440,8 @@ static u32 *gen7_rcs_emit_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *rq, u32 *cs)
 
 static u32 *gen6_xcs_emit_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *rq, u32 *cs)
 {
-	GEM_BUG_ON(rq->timeline->hwsp_ggtt != rq->engine->status_page.vma);
-	GEM_BUG_ON(offset_in_page(rq->timeline->hwsp_offset) != I915_GEM_HWS_SEQNO_ADDR);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->hwsp_ggtt != rq->engine->status_page.vma);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(offset_in_page(i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->hwsp_offset) != I915_GEM_HWS_SEQNO_ADDR);
 
 	*cs++ = MI_FLUSH_DW | MI_FLUSH_DW_OP_STOREDW | MI_FLUSH_DW_STORE_INDEX;
 	*cs++ = I915_GEM_HWS_SEQNO_ADDR | MI_FLUSH_DW_USE_GTT;
@@ -459,8 +460,8 @@ static u32 *gen7_xcs_emit_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *rq, u32 *cs)
 {
 	int i;
 
-	GEM_BUG_ON(rq->timeline->hwsp_ggtt != rq->engine->status_page.vma);
-	GEM_BUG_ON(offset_in_page(rq->timeline->hwsp_offset) != I915_GEM_HWS_SEQNO_ADDR);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->hwsp_ggtt != rq->engine->status_page.vma);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(offset_in_page(i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->hwsp_offset) != I915_GEM_HWS_SEQNO_ADDR);
 
 	*cs++ = MI_FLUSH_DW | MI_FLUSH_DW_OP_STOREDW | MI_FLUSH_DW_STORE_INDEX;
 	*cs++ = I915_GEM_HWS_SEQNO_ADDR | MI_FLUSH_DW_USE_GTT;
@@ -938,8 +939,8 @@ static void i9xx_submit_request(struct i915_request *request)
 
 static u32 *i9xx_emit_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *rq, u32 *cs)
 {
-	GEM_BUG_ON(rq->timeline->hwsp_ggtt != rq->engine->status_page.vma);
-	GEM_BUG_ON(offset_in_page(rq->timeline->hwsp_offset) != I915_GEM_HWS_SEQNO_ADDR);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->hwsp_ggtt != rq->engine->status_page.vma);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(offset_in_page(i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->hwsp_offset) != I915_GEM_HWS_SEQNO_ADDR);
 
 	*cs++ = MI_FLUSH;
 
@@ -961,8 +962,8 @@ static u32 *gen5_emit_breadcrumb(struct i915_request *rq, u32 *cs)
 {
 	int i;
 
-	GEM_BUG_ON(rq->timeline->hwsp_ggtt != rq->engine->status_page.vma);
-	GEM_BUG_ON(offset_in_page(rq->timeline->hwsp_offset) != I915_GEM_HWS_SEQNO_ADDR);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->hwsp_ggtt != rq->engine->status_page.vma);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(offset_in_page(i915_request_active_timeline(rq)->hwsp_offset) != I915_GEM_HWS_SEQNO_ADDR);
 
 	*cs++ = MI_FLUSH;
 
@@ -1815,7 +1816,7 @@ static int ring_request_alloc(struct i915_request *request)
 	int ret;
 
 	GEM_BUG_ON(!intel_context_is_pinned(request->hw_context));
-	GEM_BUG_ON(request->timeline->has_initial_breadcrumb);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(i915_request_timeline(request)->has_initial_breadcrumb);
 
 	/*
 	 * Flush enough space to reduce the likelihood of waiting after
@@ -1926,7 +1927,9 @@ u32 *intel_ring_begin(struct i915_request *rq, unsigned int num_dwords)
 		 */
 		GEM_BUG_ON(!rq->reserved_space);
 
-		ret = wait_for_space(ring, rq->timeline, total_bytes);
+		ret = wait_for_space(ring,
+				     i915_request_timeline(rq),
+				     total_bytes);
 		if (unlikely(ret))
 			return ERR_PTR(ret);
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_timeline.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_timeline.c
index 9cb01d9828f1..115a24d4a20a 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_timeline.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_timeline.c
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ int intel_timeline_get_seqno(struct intel_timeline *tl,
 static int cacheline_ref(struct intel_timeline_cacheline *cl,
 			 struct i915_request *rq)
 {
-	return i915_active_ref(&cl->active, rq->timeline, rq);
+	return i915_active_add_request(&cl->active, rq);
 }
 
 int intel_timeline_read_hwsp(struct i915_request *from,
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ int intel_timeline_read_hwsp(struct i915_request *from,
 	struct intel_timeline *tl = from->timeline;
 	int err;
 
-	GEM_BUG_ON(to->timeline == tl);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(rcu_access_pointer(to->timeline) == tl);
 
 	mutex_lock_nested(&tl->mutex, SINGLE_DEPTH_NESTING);
 	err = i915_request_completed(from);
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ void __intel_timeline_free(struct kref *kref)
 		container_of(kref, typeof(*timeline), kref);
 
 	intel_timeline_fini(timeline);
-	kfree(timeline);
+	kfree_rcu(timeline, rcu);
 }
 
 static void timelines_fini(struct intel_gt *gt)
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_timeline_types.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_timeline_types.h
index 2b1baf2fcc8e..c668c4c50e75 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_timeline_types.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_timeline_types.h
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ struct intel_timeline {
 	struct intel_gt *gt;
 
 	struct kref kref;
+	struct rcu_head rcu;
 };
 
 #endif /* __I915_TIMELINE_TYPES_H__ */
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_context.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_context.c
index 9d1ea26c7a2d..4ce1e25433d2 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_context.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_context.c
@@ -14,22 +14,28 @@
 
 static int request_sync(struct i915_request *rq)
 {
+	struct intel_timeline *tl = i915_request_timeline(rq);
 	long timeout;
 	int err = 0;
 
+	intel_timeline_get(tl);
 	i915_request_get(rq);
 
-	i915_request_add(rq);
+	/* Opencode i915_request_add() so we can keep the timeline locked. */
+	__i915_request_commit(rq);
+	__i915_request_queue(rq, NULL);
+
 	timeout = i915_request_wait(rq, 0, HZ / 10);
-	if (timeout < 0) {
+	if (timeout < 0)
 		err = timeout;
-	} else {
-		mutex_lock(&rq->timeline->mutex);
+	else
 		i915_request_retire_upto(rq);
-		mutex_unlock(&rq->timeline->mutex);
-	}
+
+	lockdep_unpin_lock(&tl->mutex, rq->cookie);
+	mutex_unlock(&tl->mutex);
 
 	i915_request_put(rq);
+	intel_timeline_put(tl);
 
 	return err;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_lrc.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_lrc.c
index 26d05bd1bdc8..93a871bfd95d 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_lrc.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/selftest_lrc.c
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ static int live_suppress_wait_preempt(void *arg)
 				}
 
 				/* Disable NEWCLIENT promotion */
-				__i915_active_request_set(&rq[i]->timeline->last_request,
+				__i915_active_request_set(&i915_request_timeline(rq[i])->last_request,
 							  dummy);
 				i915_request_add(rq[i]);
 			}
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.c
index 6a447f1d0110..d5aac6ff803a 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.c
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ void i915_request_add_active_barriers(struct i915_request *rq)
 	struct llist_node *node, *next;
 
 	GEM_BUG_ON(intel_engine_is_virtual(engine));
-	GEM_BUG_ON(rq->timeline != engine->kernel_context->timeline);
+	GEM_BUG_ON(i915_request_timeline(rq) != engine->kernel_context->timeline);
 
 	/*
 	 * Attach the list of proto-fences to the in-flight request such
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.h
index f95058f99057..949c6835335b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_active.h
@@ -373,6 +373,12 @@ int i915_active_ref(struct i915_active *ref,
 		    struct intel_timeline *tl,
 		    struct i915_request *rq);
 
+static inline int
+i915_active_add_request(struct i915_active *ref, struct i915_request *rq)
+{
+	return i915_active_ref(ref, i915_request_timeline(rq), rq);
+}
+
 int i915_active_wait(struct i915_active *ref);
 
 int i915_request_await_active(struct i915_request *rq,
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_request.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_request.c
index 606acde47fa0..fb6f21c41934 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_request.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_request.c
@@ -220,7 +220,6 @@ static bool i915_request_retire(struct i915_request *rq)
 {
 	struct i915_active_request *active, *next;
 
-	lockdep_assert_held(&rq->timeline->mutex);
 	if (!i915_request_completed(rq))
 		return false;
 
@@ -241,7 +240,8 @@ static bool i915_request_retire(struct i915_request *rq)
 	 * Note this requires that we are always called in request
 	 * completion order.
 	 */
-	GEM_BUG_ON(!list_is_first(&rq->link, &rq->timeline->requests));
+	GEM_BUG_ON(!list_is_first(&rq->link,
+				  &i915_request_timeline(rq)->requests));
 	rq->ring->head = rq->postfix;
 
 	/*
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ static bool i915_request_retire(struct i915_request *rq)
 
 void i915_request_retire_upto(struct i915_request *rq)
 {
-	struct intel_timeline * const tl = rq->timeline;
+	struct intel_timeline * const tl = i915_request_timeline(rq);
 	struct i915_request *tmp;
 
 	GEM_TRACE("%s fence %llx:%lld, current %d\n",
@@ -325,7 +325,6 @@ void i915_request_retire_upto(struct i915_request *rq)
 		  rq->fence.context, rq->fence.seqno,
 		  hwsp_seqno(rq));
 
-	lockdep_assert_held(&tl->mutex);
 	GEM_BUG_ON(!i915_request_completed(rq));
 
 	do {
@@ -661,9 +660,11 @@ __i915_request_create(struct intel_context *ce, gfp_t gfp)
 	rq->gem_context = ce->gem_context;
 	rq->engine = ce->engine;
 	rq->ring = ce->ring;
-	rq->timeline = tl;
+
+	rcu_assign_pointer(rq->timeline, tl);
 	rq->hwsp_seqno = tl->hwsp_seqno;
 	rq->hwsp_cacheline = tl->hwsp_cacheline;
+
 	rq->rcustate = get_state_synchronize_rcu(); /* acts as smp_mb() */
 
 	spin_lock_init(&rq->lock);
@@ -771,7 +772,8 @@ i915_request_await_start(struct i915_request *rq, struct i915_request *signal)
 		return 0;
 
 	signal = list_prev_entry(signal, link);
-	if (intel_timeline_sync_is_later(rq->timeline, &signal->fence))
+	if (intel_timeline_sync_is_later(i915_request_timeline(rq),
+					 &signal->fence))
 		return 0;
 
 	return i915_sw_fence_await_dma_fence(&rq->submit,
@@ -947,7 +949,8 @@ i915_request_await_dma_fence(struct i915_request *rq, struct dma_fence *fence)
 
 		/* Squash repeated waits to the same timelines */
 		if (fence->context &&
-		    intel_timeline_sync_is_later(rq->timeline, fence))
+		    intel_timeline_sync_is_later(i915_request_timeline(rq),
+						 fence))
 			continue;
 
 		if (dma_fence_is_i915(fence))
@@ -961,7 +964,8 @@ i915_request_await_dma_fence(struct i915_request *rq, struct dma_fence *fence)
 
 		/* Record the latest fence used against each timeline */
 		if (fence->context)
-			intel_timeline_sync_set(rq->timeline, fence);
+			intel_timeline_sync_set(i915_request_timeline(rq),
+						fence);
 	} while (--nchild);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1103,7 +1107,7 @@ void i915_request_skip(struct i915_request *rq, int error)
 static struct i915_request *
 __i915_request_add_to_timeline(struct i915_request *rq)
 {
-	struct intel_timeline *timeline = rq->timeline;
+	struct intel_timeline *timeline = i915_request_timeline(rq);
 	struct i915_request *prev;
 
 	/*
@@ -1216,7 +1220,7 @@ void __i915_request_queue(struct i915_request *rq,
 void i915_request_add(struct i915_request *rq)
 {
 	struct i915_sched_attr attr = rq->gem_context->sched;
-	struct intel_timeline * const tl = rq->timeline;
+	struct intel_timeline * const tl = i915_request_timeline(rq);
 	struct i915_request *prev;
 
 	lockdep_assert_held(&tl->mutex);
@@ -1271,7 +1275,9 @@ void i915_request_add(struct i915_request *rq)
 	 * work on behalf of others -- but instead we should benefit from
 	 * improved resource management. (Well, that's the theory at least.)
 	 */
-	if (prev && i915_request_completed(prev) && prev->timeline == tl)
+	if (prev &&
+	    i915_request_completed(prev) &&
+	    rcu_access_pointer(prev->timeline) == tl)
 		i915_request_retire_upto(prev);
 
 	mutex_unlock(&tl->mutex);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_request.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_request.h
index 8ac6e1226a56..b18f49528ded 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_request.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_request.h
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ struct i915_request {
 	struct intel_engine_cs *engine;
 	struct intel_context *hw_context;
 	struct intel_ring *ring;
-	struct intel_timeline *timeline;
+	struct intel_timeline __rcu *timeline;
 	struct list_head signal_link;
 
 	/*
@@ -442,6 +442,26 @@ static inline bool i915_request_has_nopreempt(const struct i915_request *rq)
 	return unlikely(rq->flags & I915_REQUEST_NOPREEMPT);
 }
 
+static inline struct intel_timeline *
+i915_request_timeline(struct i915_request *rq)
+{
+	/* Valid only while the request is being constructed (or retired). */
+	return rcu_dereference_protected(rq->timeline,
+					 lockdep_is_held(&rcu_access_pointer(rq->timeline)->mutex));
+}
+
+static inline struct intel_timeline *
+i915_request_active_timeline(struct i915_request *rq)
+{
+	/*
+	 * When in use during submission, we are protected by a guarantee that
+	 * the context/timeline is pinned and must remain pinned until after
+	 * this submission.
+	 */
+	return rcu_dereference_protected(rq->timeline,
+					 lockdep_is_held(&rq->engine->active.lock));
+}
+
 bool i915_retire_requests(struct drm_i915_private *i915);
 
 #endif /* I915_REQUEST_H */
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_vma.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_vma.c
index 411047d6a909..9d5b0f87c210 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_vma.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_vma.c
@@ -900,15 +900,13 @@ int i915_vma_move_to_active(struct i915_vma *vma,
 	 * add the active reference first and queue for it to be dropped
 	 * *last*.
 	 */
-	err = i915_active_ref(&vma->active, rq->timeline, rq);
+	err = i915_active_add_request(&vma->active, rq);
 	if (unlikely(err))
 		return err;
 
 	if (flags & EXEC_OBJECT_WRITE) {
 		if (intel_frontbuffer_invalidate(obj->frontbuffer, ORIGIN_CS))
-			i915_active_ref(&obj->frontbuffer->write,
-					rq->timeline,
-					rq);
+			i915_active_add_request(&obj->frontbuffer->write, rq);
 
 		dma_resv_add_excl_fence(vma->resv, &rq->fence);
 		obj->write_domain = I915_GEM_DOMAIN_RENDER;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/i915_active.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/i915_active.c
index 77d844ac8b71..afecfa081ff4 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/i915_active.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/i915_active.c
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ __live_active_setup(struct drm_i915_private *i915)
 						       submit,
 						       GFP_KERNEL);
 		if (err >= 0)
-			err = i915_active_ref(&active->base, rq->timeline, rq);
+			err = i915_active_add_request(&active->base, rq);
 		i915_request_add(rq);
 		if (err) {
 			pr_err("Failed to track active ref!\n");
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/igt_spinner.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/igt_spinner.c
index 11f04ad48e68..ee8450b871da 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/igt_spinner.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/selftests/igt_spinner.c
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ igt_spinner_create_request(struct igt_spinner *spin,
 	intel_gt_chipset_flush(engine->gt);
 
 	if (engine->emit_init_breadcrumb &&
-	    rq->timeline->has_initial_breadcrumb) {
+	    i915_request_timeline(rq)->has_initial_breadcrumb) {
 		err = engine->emit_init_breadcrumb(rq);
 		if (err)
 			goto cancel_rq;