diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c
index 2b230b4d6942..dcbeeb68ca64 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_client.c
@@ -122,13 +122,34 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_client_init);
  * drm_client_register() it is no longer permissible to call drm_client_release()
  * directly (outside the unregister callback), instead cleanup will happen
  * automatically on driver unload.
+ *
+ * Registering a client generates a hotplug event that allows the client
+ * to set up its display from pre-existing outputs. The client must have
+ * initialized its state to able to handle the hotplug event successfully.
  */
 void drm_client_register(struct drm_client_dev *client)
 {
 	struct drm_device *dev = client->dev;
+	int ret;
 
 	mutex_lock(&dev->clientlist_mutex);
 	list_add(&client->list, &dev->clientlist);
+
+	if (client->funcs && client->funcs->hotplug) {
+		/*
+		 * Perform an initial hotplug event to pick up the
+		 * display configuration for the client. This step
+		 * has to be performed *after* registering the client
+		 * in the list of clients, or a concurrent hotplug
+		 * event might be lost; leaving the display off.
+		 *
+		 * Hold the clientlist_mutex as for a regular hotplug
+		 * event.
+		 */
+		ret = client->funcs->hotplug(client);
+		if (ret)
+			drm_dbg_kms(dev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
+	}
 	mutex_unlock(&dev->clientlist_mutex);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_client_register);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
index 76e46713b2f0..442746d9777a 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_fb_helper.c
@@ -2634,10 +2634,6 @@ void drm_fbdev_generic_setup(struct drm_device *dev,
 		preferred_bpp = 32;
 	fb_helper->preferred_bpp = preferred_bpp;
 
-	ret = drm_fbdev_client_hotplug(&fb_helper->client);
-	if (ret)
-		drm_dbg_kms(dev, "client hotplug ret=%d\n", ret);
-
 	drm_client_register(&fb_helper->client);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_fbdev_generic_setup);