diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_drv.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_drv.c
index 65a567dcf3ab..4f48b908bdc6 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_drv.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_drv.c
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ static int omapdrm_init(struct omap_drm_private *priv, struct device *dev)
 	for (i = 0; i < priv->num_crtcs; i++)
 		drm_crtc_vblank_off(priv->crtcs[i]);
 
-	priv->fbdev = omap_fbdev_init(ddev);
+	omap_fbdev_init(ddev);
 
 	drm_kms_helper_poll_init(ddev);
 	omap_modeset_enable_external_hpd();
@@ -588,8 +588,8 @@ static int omapdrm_init(struct omap_drm_private *priv, struct device *dev)
 err_cleanup_helpers:
 	omap_modeset_disable_external_hpd();
 	drm_kms_helper_poll_fini(ddev);
-	if (priv->fbdev)
-		omap_fbdev_free(ddev);
+
+	omap_fbdev_fini(ddev);
 err_cleanup_modeset:
 	drm_mode_config_cleanup(ddev);
 	omap_drm_irq_uninstall(ddev);
@@ -615,8 +615,7 @@ static void omapdrm_cleanup(struct omap_drm_private *priv)
 	omap_modeset_disable_external_hpd();
 	drm_kms_helper_poll_fini(ddev);
 
-	if (priv->fbdev)
-		omap_fbdev_free(ddev);
+	omap_fbdev_fini(ddev);
 
 	drm_atomic_helper_shutdown(ddev);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
index 632ebcf2165f..be94480326d7 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ static struct drm_fb_helper *get_fb(struct fb_info *fbi)
 }
 
 /* initialize fbdev helper */
-struct drm_fb_helper *omap_fbdev_init(struct drm_device *dev)
+void omap_fbdev_init(struct drm_device *dev)
 {
 	struct omap_drm_private *priv = dev->dev_private;
 	struct omap_fbdev *fbdev = NULL;
@@ -260,10 +260,8 @@ struct drm_fb_helper *omap_fbdev_init(struct drm_device *dev)
 	drm_fb_helper_prepare(dev, helper, &omap_fb_helper_funcs);
 
 	ret = drm_fb_helper_init(dev, helper, priv->num_connectors);
-	if (ret) {
-		dev_err(dev->dev, "could not init fbdev: ret=%d\n", ret);
+	if (ret)
 		goto fail;
-	}
 
 	ret = drm_fb_helper_single_add_all_connectors(helper);
 	if (ret)
@@ -275,7 +273,7 @@ struct drm_fb_helper *omap_fbdev_init(struct drm_device *dev)
 
 	priv->fbdev = helper;
 
-	return helper;
+	return;
 
 fini:
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(helper);
@@ -283,12 +281,9 @@ fail:
 	kfree(fbdev);
 
 	dev_warn(dev->dev, "omap_fbdev_init failed\n");
-	/* well, limp along without an fbdev.. maybe X11 will work? */
-
-	return NULL;
 }
 
-void omap_fbdev_free(struct drm_device *dev)
+void omap_fbdev_fini(struct drm_device *dev)
 {
 	struct omap_drm_private *priv = dev->dev_private;
 	struct drm_fb_helper *helper = priv->fbdev;
@@ -296,11 +291,14 @@ void omap_fbdev_free(struct drm_device *dev)
 
 	DBG();
 
+	if (!helper)
+		return;
+
 	drm_fb_helper_unregister_fbi(helper);
 
 	drm_fb_helper_fini(helper);
 
-	fbdev = to_omap_fbdev(priv->fbdev);
+	fbdev = to_omap_fbdev(helper);
 
 	/* unpin the GEM object pinned in omap_fbdev_create() */
 	if (fbdev->bo)
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.h
index 1f5ba0996a1a..7dfd843f73f1 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.h
@@ -24,14 +24,13 @@ struct drm_device;
 struct drm_fb_helper;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_DRM_FBDEV_EMULATION
-struct drm_fb_helper *omap_fbdev_init(struct drm_device *dev);
-void omap_fbdev_free(struct drm_device *dev);
+void omap_fbdev_init(struct drm_device *dev);
+void omap_fbdev_fini(struct drm_device *dev);
 #else
-static inline struct drm_fb_helper *omap_fbdev_init(struct drm_device *dev)
+static inline void omap_fbdev_init(struct drm_device *dev)
 {
-	return NULL;
 }
-static inline void omap_fbdev_free(struct drm_device *dev)
+static inline void omap_fbdev_fini(struct drm_device *dev)
 {
 }
 #endif