diff --git a/include/sound/seq_kernel.h b/include/sound/seq_kernel.h
index 2398521f0998..eea5400fe373 100644
--- a/include/sound/seq_kernel.h
+++ b/include/sound/seq_kernel.h
@@ -108,9 +108,13 @@ int snd_seq_event_port_detach(int client, int port);
 #ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
 void snd_seq_autoload_lock(void);
 void snd_seq_autoload_unlock(void);
+void snd_seq_autoload_init(void);
+#define snd_seq_autoload_exit()	snd_seq_autoload_lock()
 #else
 #define snd_seq_autoload_lock()
 #define snd_seq_autoload_unlock()
+#define snd_seq_autoload_init()
+#define snd_seq_autoload_exit()
 #endif
 
 #endif /* __SOUND_SEQ_KERNEL_H */
diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq.c b/sound/core/seq/seq.c
index 712110561082..bebdd2e920ca 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq.c
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ static int __init alsa_seq_init(void)
 	if ((err = snd_seq_system_client_init()) < 0)
 		goto error;
 
+	snd_seq_autoload_init();
  error:
 	snd_seq_autoload_unlock();
 	return err;
@@ -131,6 +132,8 @@ static void __exit alsa_seq_exit(void)
 
 	/* release event memory */
 	snd_sequencer_memory_done();
+
+	snd_seq_autoload_exit();
 }
 
 module_init(alsa_seq_init)
diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_device.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_device.c
index 775ea9390110..a8e2c6016800 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_device.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_device.c
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ MODULE_LICENSE("GPL");
 #define DRIVER_LOADED		(1<<0)
 #define DRIVER_REQUESTED	(1<<1)
 #define DRIVER_LOCKED		(1<<2)
+#define DRIVER_REQUESTING	(1<<3)
 
 struct ops_list {
 	char id[ID_LEN];	/* driver id */
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ static void snd_seq_device_info(struct snd_info_entry *entry,
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
 /* avoid auto-loading during module_init() */
-static atomic_t snd_seq_in_init = ATOMIC_INIT(0);
+static atomic_t snd_seq_in_init = ATOMIC_INIT(1); /* blocked as default */
 void snd_seq_autoload_lock(void)
 {
 	atomic_inc(&snd_seq_in_init);
@@ -137,32 +138,72 @@ void snd_seq_autoload_unlock(void)
 {
 	atomic_dec(&snd_seq_in_init);
 }
+
+static void autoload_drivers(void)
+{
+	/* avoid reentrance */
+	if (atomic_inc_return(&snd_seq_in_init) == 1) {
+		struct ops_list *ops;
+
+		mutex_lock(&ops_mutex);
+		list_for_each_entry(ops, &opslist, list) {
+			if ((ops->driver & DRIVER_REQUESTING) &&
+			    !(ops->driver & DRIVER_REQUESTED)) {
+				ops->used++;
+				mutex_unlock(&ops_mutex);
+				ops->driver |= DRIVER_REQUESTED;
+				request_module("snd-%s", ops->id);
+				mutex_lock(&ops_mutex);
+				ops->used--;
+			}
+		}
+		mutex_unlock(&ops_mutex);
+	}
+	atomic_dec(&snd_seq_in_init);
+}
+
+static void call_autoload(struct work_struct *work)
+{
+	autoload_drivers();
+}
+
+static DECLARE_WORK(autoload_work, call_autoload);
+
+static void try_autoload(struct ops_list *ops)
+{
+	if (!ops->driver) {
+		ops->driver |= DRIVER_REQUESTING;
+		schedule_work(&autoload_work);
+	}
+}
+
+static void queue_autoload_drivers(void)
+{
+	struct ops_list *ops;
+
+	mutex_lock(&ops_mutex);
+	list_for_each_entry(ops, &opslist, list)
+		try_autoload(ops);
+	mutex_unlock(&ops_mutex);
+}
+
+void snd_seq_autoload_init(void)
+{
+	atomic_dec(&snd_seq_in_init);
+#ifdef CONFIG_SND_SEQUENCER_MODULE
+	/* initial autoload only when snd-seq is a module */
+	queue_autoload_drivers();
+#endif
+}
+#else
+#define try_autoload(ops) /* NOP */
 #endif
 
 void snd_seq_device_load_drivers(void)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
-	struct ops_list *ops;
-
-	/* Calling request_module during module_init()
-	 * may cause blocking.
-	 */
-	if (atomic_read(&snd_seq_in_init))
-		return;
-
-	mutex_lock(&ops_mutex);
-	list_for_each_entry(ops, &opslist, list) {
-		if (! (ops->driver & DRIVER_LOADED) &&
-		    ! (ops->driver & DRIVER_REQUESTED)) {
-			ops->used++;
-			mutex_unlock(&ops_mutex);
-			ops->driver |= DRIVER_REQUESTED;
-			request_module("snd-%s", ops->id);
-			mutex_lock(&ops_mutex);
-			ops->used--;
-		}
-	}
-	mutex_unlock(&ops_mutex);
+	queue_autoload_drivers();
+	flush_work(&autoload_work);
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -214,13 +255,14 @@ int snd_seq_device_new(struct snd_card *card, int device, char *id, int argsize,
 	ops->num_devices++;
 	mutex_unlock(&ops->reg_mutex);
 
-	unlock_driver(ops);
-	
 	if ((err = snd_device_new(card, SNDRV_DEV_SEQUENCER, dev, &dops)) < 0) {
 		snd_seq_device_free(dev);
 		return err;
 	}
 	
+	try_autoload(ops);
+	unlock_driver(ops);
+
 	if (result)
 		*result = dev;
 
@@ -554,6 +596,9 @@ static int __init alsa_seq_device_init(void)
 
 static void __exit alsa_seq_device_exit(void)
 {
+#ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
+	cancel_work_sync(&autoload_work);
+#endif
 	remove_drivers();
 #ifdef CONFIG_PROC_FS
 	snd_info_free_entry(info_entry);
@@ -570,6 +615,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_seq_device_new);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_seq_device_register_driver);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_seq_device_unregister_driver);
 #ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_seq_autoload_init);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_seq_autoload_lock);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_seq_autoload_unlock);
 #endif