diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_encoder.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_encoder.c
index e555281f43d4..b0b86a3c08f5 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_encoder.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_encoder.c
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ int drm_encoder_register_all(struct drm_device *dev)
 	int ret = 0;
 
 	drm_for_each_encoder(encoder, dev) {
-		if (encoder->funcs->late_register)
+		if (encoder->funcs && encoder->funcs->late_register)
 			ret = encoder->funcs->late_register(encoder);
 		if (ret)
 			return ret;
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void drm_encoder_unregister_all(struct drm_device *dev)
 	struct drm_encoder *encoder;
 
 	drm_for_each_encoder(encoder, dev) {
-		if (encoder->funcs->early_unregister)
+		if (encoder->funcs && encoder->funcs->early_unregister)
 			encoder->funcs->early_unregister(encoder);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_mode_config.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_mode_config.c
index f1affc1bb679..e56a7f877f48 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_mode_config.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/drm_mode_config.c
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ void drm_mode_config_reset(struct drm_device *dev)
 			crtc->funcs->reset(crtc);
 
 	drm_for_each_encoder(encoder, dev)
-		if (encoder->funcs->reset)
+		if (encoder->funcs && encoder->funcs->reset)
 			encoder->funcs->reset(encoder);
 
 	drm_connector_list_iter_begin(dev, &conn_iter);
diff --git a/include/drm/drm_encoder.h b/include/drm/drm_encoder.h
index 5dfa5f7a80a7..833123637fbf 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_encoder.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_encoder.h
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ struct drm_encoder_funcs {
  * @head: list management
  * @base: base KMS object
  * @name: human readable name, can be overwritten by the driver
- * @funcs: control functions
+ * @funcs: control functions, can be NULL for simple managed encoders
  * @helper_private: mid-layer private data
  *
  * CRTCs drive pixels to encoders, which convert them into signals