--- b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_probe_helper.c
+++ a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_probe_helper.c
@@ -714,7 +714,7 @@
  * @dev: drm_device whose connector state changed
  *
  * This function fires off the uevent for userspace and also calls the
+ * output_poll_changed function, which is most commonly used to inform the fbdev
- * client hotplug function, which is most commonly used to inform the fbdev
  * emulation code and allow it to update the fbcon output configuration.
  *
  * Drivers should call this from their hotplug handling code when a change is
@@ -730,7 +730,11 @@
  */
 void drm_kms_helper_hotplug_event(struct drm_device *dev)
 {
+	/* send a uevent + call fbdev */
 	drm_sysfs_hotplug_event(dev);
+	if (dev->mode_config.funcs->output_poll_changed)
+		dev->mode_config.funcs->output_poll_changed(dev);
+
 	drm_client_dev_hotplug(dev);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_kms_helper_hotplug_event);
@@ -746,7 +750,11 @@
 {
 	struct drm_device *dev = connector->dev;
 
+	/* send a uevent + call fbdev */
 	drm_sysfs_connector_hotplug_event(connector);
+	if (dev->mode_config.funcs->output_poll_changed)
+		dev->mode_config.funcs->output_poll_changed(dev);
+
 	drm_client_dev_hotplug(dev);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(drm_kms_helper_connector_hotplug_event);
--- b/include/drm/drm_mode_config.h
+++ a/include/drm/drm_mode_config.h
@@ -97,6 +97,22 @@
 	 */
 	const struct drm_format_info *(*get_format_info)(const struct drm_mode_fb_cmd2 *mode_cmd);
 
+	/**
+	 * @output_poll_changed:
+	 *
+	 * Callback used by helpers to inform the driver of output configuration
+	 * changes.
+	 *
+	 * Drivers implementing fbdev emulation use drm_kms_helper_hotplug_event()
+	 * to call this hook to inform the fbdev helper of output changes.
+	 *
+	 * This hook is deprecated, drivers should instead implement fbdev
+	 * support with struct drm_client, which takes care of any necessary
+	 * hotplug event forwarding already without further involvement by
+	 * the driver.
+	 */
+	void (*output_poll_changed)(struct drm_device *dev);
+
 	/**
 	 * @mode_valid:
 	 *