diff --git a/drivers/iio/adc/ti_am335x_adc.c b/drivers/iio/adc/ti_am335x_adc.c
index b730864..d550ac7 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/adc/ti_am335x_adc.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/adc/ti_am335x_adc.c
@@ -264,16 +264,8 @@
 	indio_dev->setup_ops = setup_ops;
 	indio_dev->modes |= INDIO_BUFFER_HARDWARE;
 
-	ret = iio_buffer_register(indio_dev,
-				  indio_dev->channels,
-				  indio_dev->num_channels);
-	if (ret)
-		goto error_free_irq;
-
 	return 0;
 
-error_free_irq:
-	free_irq(irq, indio_dev);
 error_kfifo_free:
 	iio_kfifo_free(indio_dev->buffer);
 	return ret;
@@ -285,7 +277,6 @@
 
 	free_irq(adc_dev->mfd_tscadc->irq, indio_dev);
 	iio_kfifo_free(indio_dev->buffer);
-	iio_buffer_unregister(indio_dev);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/drivers/iio/iio_core.h b/drivers/iio/iio_core.h
index 5f0ea77..3598835 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/iio_core.h
+++ b/drivers/iio/iio_core.h
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@
 ssize_t iio_buffer_read_first_n_outer(struct file *filp, char __user *buf,
 				      size_t n, loff_t *f_ps);
 
+int iio_buffer_alloc_sysfs_and_mask(struct iio_dev *indio_dev);
+void iio_buffer_free_sysfs_and_mask(struct iio_dev *indio_dev);
 
 #define iio_buffer_poll_addr (&iio_buffer_poll)
 #define iio_buffer_read_first_n_outer_addr (&iio_buffer_read_first_n_outer)
@@ -60,6 +62,13 @@
 #define iio_buffer_poll_addr NULL
 #define iio_buffer_read_first_n_outer_addr NULL
 
+static inline int iio_buffer_alloc_sysfs_and_mask(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static inline void iio_buffer_free_sysfs_and_mask(struct iio_dev *indio_dev) {}
+
 static inline void iio_disable_all_buffers(struct iio_dev *indio_dev) {}
 static inline void iio_buffer_wakeup_poll(struct iio_dev *indio_dev) {}
 
diff --git a/drivers/iio/industrialio-buffer.c b/drivers/iio/industrialio-buffer.c
index f667e4e..8bb3e64 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/industrialio-buffer.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/industrialio-buffer.c
@@ -385,14 +385,16 @@
 
 static const char * const iio_scan_elements_group_name = "scan_elements";
 
-int iio_buffer_register(struct iio_dev *indio_dev,
-			const struct iio_chan_spec *channels,
-			int num_channels)
+int iio_buffer_alloc_sysfs_and_mask(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
 {
 	struct iio_dev_attr *p;
 	struct attribute **attr;
 	struct iio_buffer *buffer = indio_dev->buffer;
 	int ret, i, attrn, attrcount, attrcount_orig = 0;
+	const struct iio_chan_spec *channels;
+
+	if (!buffer)
+		return 0;
 
 	if (buffer->attrs)
 		indio_dev->groups[indio_dev->groupcounter++] = buffer->attrs;
@@ -404,9 +406,10 @@
 	}
 	attrcount = attrcount_orig;
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&buffer->scan_el_dev_attr_list);
+	channels = indio_dev->channels;
 	if (channels) {
 		/* new magic */
-		for (i = 0; i < num_channels; i++) {
+		for (i = 0; i < indio_dev->num_channels; i++) {
 			if (channels[i].scan_index < 0)
 				continue;
 
@@ -463,15 +466,16 @@
 
 	return ret;
 }
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(iio_buffer_register);
 
-void iio_buffer_unregister(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
+void iio_buffer_free_sysfs_and_mask(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
 {
+	if (!indio_dev->buffer)
+		return;
+
 	kfree(indio_dev->buffer->scan_mask);
 	kfree(indio_dev->buffer->scan_el_group.attrs);
 	iio_free_chan_devattr_list(&indio_dev->buffer->scan_el_dev_attr_list);
 }
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(iio_buffer_unregister);
 
 ssize_t iio_buffer_read_length(struct device *dev,
 			       struct device_attribute *attr,
diff --git a/drivers/iio/industrialio-core.c b/drivers/iio/industrialio-core.c
index 45bb3a4..ee442ee 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/industrialio-core.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/industrialio-core.c
@@ -1158,11 +1158,19 @@
 			"Failed to register debugfs interfaces\n");
 		return ret;
 	}
+
+	ret = iio_buffer_alloc_sysfs_and_mask(indio_dev);
+	if (ret) {
+		dev_err(indio_dev->dev.parent,
+			"Failed to create buffer sysfs interfaces\n");
+		goto error_unreg_debugfs;
+	}
+
 	ret = iio_device_register_sysfs(indio_dev);
 	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(indio_dev->dev.parent,
 			"Failed to register sysfs interfaces\n");
-		goto error_unreg_debugfs;
+		goto error_buffer_free_sysfs;
 	}
 	ret = iio_device_register_eventset(indio_dev);
 	if (ret) {
@@ -1195,6 +1203,8 @@
 	iio_device_unregister_eventset(indio_dev);
 error_free_sysfs:
 	iio_device_unregister_sysfs(indio_dev);
+error_buffer_free_sysfs:
+	iio_buffer_free_sysfs_and_mask(indio_dev);
 error_unreg_debugfs:
 	iio_device_unregister_debugfs(indio_dev);
 	return ret;
@@ -1223,6 +1233,8 @@
 	iio_buffer_wakeup_poll(indio_dev);
 
 	mutex_unlock(&indio_dev->info_exist_lock);
+
+	iio_buffer_free_sysfs_and_mask(indio_dev);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(iio_device_unregister);
 
diff --git a/drivers/iio/industrialio-triggered-buffer.c b/drivers/iio/industrialio-triggered-buffer.c
index d6f54930..61a5d04 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/industrialio-triggered-buffer.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/industrialio-triggered-buffer.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
  *
  * This function combines some common tasks which will normally be performed
  * when setting up a triggered buffer. It will allocate the buffer and the
- * pollfunc, as well as register the buffer with the IIO core.
+ * pollfunc.
  *
  * Before calling this function the indio_dev structure should already be
  * completely initialized, but not yet registered. In practice this means that
@@ -78,16 +78,8 @@
 	/* Flag that polled ring buffering is possible */
 	indio_dev->modes |= INDIO_BUFFER_TRIGGERED;
 
-	ret = iio_buffer_register(indio_dev,
-				  indio_dev->channels,
-				  indio_dev->num_channels);
-	if (ret)
-		goto error_dealloc_pollfunc;
-
 	return 0;
 
-error_dealloc_pollfunc:
-	iio_dealloc_pollfunc(indio_dev->pollfunc);
 error_kfifo_free:
 	iio_kfifo_free(indio_dev->buffer);
 error_ret:
@@ -101,7 +93,6 @@
  */
 void iio_triggered_buffer_cleanup(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
 {
-	iio_buffer_unregister(indio_dev);
 	iio_dealloc_pollfunc(indio_dev->pollfunc);
 	iio_kfifo_free(indio_dev->buffer);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/accel/lis3l02dq_core.c b/drivers/staging/iio/accel/lis3l02dq_core.c
index f5e145c..b78c9c5 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/accel/lis3l02dq_core.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/accel/lis3l02dq_core.c
@@ -716,14 +716,6 @@
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	ret = iio_buffer_register(indio_dev,
-				  lis3l02dq_channels,
-				  ARRAY_SIZE(lis3l02dq_channels));
-	if (ret) {
-		dev_err(&spi->dev, "failed to initialize the buffer\n");
-		goto error_unreg_buffer_funcs;
-	}
-
 	if (spi->irq) {
 		ret = request_threaded_irq(st->us->irq,
 					   &lis3l02dq_th,
@@ -732,7 +724,7 @@
 					   "lis3l02dq",
 					   indio_dev);
 		if (ret)
-			goto error_uninitialize_buffer;
+			goto error_unreg_buffer_funcs;
 
 		ret = lis3l02dq_probe_trigger(indio_dev);
 		if (ret)
@@ -756,8 +748,6 @@
 error_free_interrupt:
 	if (spi->irq)
 		free_irq(st->us->irq, indio_dev);
-error_uninitialize_buffer:
-	iio_buffer_unregister(indio_dev);
 error_unreg_buffer_funcs:
 	lis3l02dq_unconfigure_buffer(indio_dev);
 	return ret;
@@ -804,7 +794,6 @@
 		free_irq(st->us->irq, indio_dev);
 
 	lis3l02dq_remove_trigger(indio_dev);
-	iio_buffer_unregister(indio_dev);
 	lis3l02dq_unconfigure_buffer(indio_dev);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/accel/sca3000_core.c b/drivers/staging/iio/accel/sca3000_core.c
index aef8c91..9cd04c7 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/accel/sca3000_core.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/accel/sca3000_core.c
@@ -1156,11 +1156,6 @@
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	ret = iio_buffer_register(indio_dev, indio_dev->channels,
-				  indio_dev->num_channels);
-	if (ret < 0)
-		goto error_unregister_dev;
-
 	if (spi->irq) {
 		ret = request_threaded_irq(spi->irq,
 					   NULL,
@@ -1169,7 +1164,7 @@
 					   "sca3000",
 					   indio_dev);
 		if (ret)
-			goto error_unregister_ring;
+			goto error_unregister_dev;
 	}
 	sca3000_register_ring_funcs(indio_dev);
 	ret = sca3000_clean_setup(st);
@@ -1180,8 +1175,6 @@
 error_free_irq:
 	if (spi->irq)
 		free_irq(spi->irq, indio_dev);
-error_unregister_ring:
-	iio_buffer_unregister(indio_dev);
 error_unregister_dev:
 	iio_device_unregister(indio_dev);
 	return ret;
@@ -1215,7 +1208,6 @@
 	if (spi->irq)
 		free_irq(spi->irq, indio_dev);
 	iio_device_unregister(indio_dev);
-	iio_buffer_unregister(indio_dev);
 	sca3000_unconfigure_ring(indio_dev);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/iio_simple_dummy_buffer.c b/drivers/staging/iio/iio_simple_dummy_buffer.c
index 35d60d5..a2d72c1 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/iio_simple_dummy_buffer.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/iio_simple_dummy_buffer.c
@@ -172,15 +172,8 @@
 	 */
 	indio_dev->modes |= INDIO_BUFFER_TRIGGERED;
 
-	ret = iio_buffer_register(indio_dev, indio_dev->channels,
-				  indio_dev->num_channels);
-	if (ret)
-		goto error_dealloc_pollfunc;
-
 	return 0;
 
-error_dealloc_pollfunc:
-	iio_dealloc_pollfunc(indio_dev->pollfunc);
 error_free_buffer:
 	iio_kfifo_free(indio_dev->buffer);
 error_ret:
@@ -194,7 +187,6 @@
  */
 void iio_simple_dummy_unconfigure_buffer(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
 {
-	iio_buffer_unregister(indio_dev);
 	iio_dealloc_pollfunc(indio_dev->pollfunc);
 	iio_kfifo_free(indio_dev->buffer);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/impedance-analyzer/ad5933.c b/drivers/staging/iio/impedance-analyzer/ad5933.c
index aa6a368..c50b138 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/impedance-analyzer/ad5933.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/impedance-analyzer/ad5933.c
@@ -752,23 +752,16 @@
 	if (ret)
 		goto error_disable_reg;
 
-	ret = iio_buffer_register(indio_dev, ad5933_channels,
-		ARRAY_SIZE(ad5933_channels));
+	ret = ad5933_setup(st);
 	if (ret)
 		goto error_unreg_ring;
 
-	ret = ad5933_setup(st);
-	if (ret)
-		goto error_uninitialize_ring;
-
 	ret = iio_device_register(indio_dev);
 	if (ret)
-		goto error_uninitialize_ring;
+		goto error_unreg_ring;
 
 	return 0;
 
-error_uninitialize_ring:
-	iio_buffer_unregister(indio_dev);
 error_unreg_ring:
 	iio_kfifo_free(indio_dev->buffer);
 error_disable_reg:
@@ -784,7 +777,6 @@
 	struct ad5933_state *st = iio_priv(indio_dev);
 
 	iio_device_unregister(indio_dev);
-	iio_buffer_unregister(indio_dev);
 	iio_kfifo_free(indio_dev->buffer);
 	if (!IS_ERR(st->reg))
 		regulator_disable(st->reg);
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758.h b/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758.h
index 0731820..762d7dc 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758.h
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758.h
@@ -146,7 +146,6 @@
 int ade7758_configure_ring(struct iio_dev *indio_dev);
 void ade7758_unconfigure_ring(struct iio_dev *indio_dev);
 
-void ade7758_uninitialize_ring(struct iio_dev *indio_dev);
 int ade7758_set_irq(struct device *dev, bool enable);
 
 int ade7758_spi_write_reg_8(struct device *dev,
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758_core.c b/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758_core.c
index abc6006..6e8b011 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758_core.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758_core.c
@@ -885,23 +885,15 @@
 	if (ret)
 		goto error_free_tx;
 
-	ret = iio_buffer_register(indio_dev,
-				  &ade7758_channels[0],
-				  ARRAY_SIZE(ade7758_channels));
-	if (ret) {
-		dev_err(&spi->dev, "failed to initialize the ring\n");
-		goto error_unreg_ring_funcs;
-	}
-
 	/* Get the device into a sane initial state */
 	ret = ade7758_initial_setup(indio_dev);
 	if (ret)
-		goto error_uninitialize_ring;
+		goto error_unreg_ring_funcs;
 
 	if (spi->irq) {
 		ret = ade7758_probe_trigger(indio_dev);
 		if (ret)
-			goto error_uninitialize_ring;
+			goto error_unreg_ring_funcs;
 	}
 
 	ret = iio_device_register(indio_dev);
@@ -913,8 +905,6 @@
 error_remove_trigger:
 	if (spi->irq)
 		ade7758_remove_trigger(indio_dev);
-error_uninitialize_ring:
-	ade7758_uninitialize_ring(indio_dev);
 error_unreg_ring_funcs:
 	ade7758_unconfigure_ring(indio_dev);
 error_free_tx:
@@ -932,7 +922,6 @@
 	iio_device_unregister(indio_dev);
 	ade7758_stop_device(&indio_dev->dev);
 	ade7758_remove_trigger(indio_dev);
-	ade7758_uninitialize_ring(indio_dev);
 	ade7758_unconfigure_ring(indio_dev);
 	kfree(st->tx);
 	kfree(st->rx);
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758_ring.c b/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758_ring.c
index c0accf8..27c3ed6 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758_ring.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/meter/ade7758_ring.c
@@ -181,8 +181,3 @@
 	iio_kfifo_free(indio_dev->buffer);
 	return ret;
 }
-
-void ade7758_uninitialize_ring(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
-{
-	iio_buffer_unregister(indio_dev);
-}
diff --git a/include/linux/iio/buffer.h b/include/linux/iio/buffer.h
index 8c8ce61..b0e006c 100644
--- a/include/linux/iio/buffer.h
+++ b/include/linux/iio/buffer.h
@@ -151,22 +151,6 @@
 int iio_update_demux(struct iio_dev *indio_dev);
 
 /**
- * iio_buffer_register() - register the buffer with IIO core
- * @indio_dev:		device with the buffer to be registered
- * @channels:		the channel descriptions used to construct buffer
- * @num_channels:	the number of channels
- **/
-int iio_buffer_register(struct iio_dev *indio_dev,
-			const struct iio_chan_spec *channels,
-			int num_channels);
-
-/**
- * iio_buffer_unregister() - unregister the buffer from IIO core
- * @indio_dev:		the device with the buffer to be unregistered
- **/
-void iio_buffer_unregister(struct iio_dev *indio_dev);
-
-/**
  * iio_buffer_read_length() - attr func to get number of datums in the buffer
  **/
 ssize_t iio_buffer_read_length(struct device *dev,
@@ -223,16 +207,6 @@
 
 #else /* CONFIG_IIO_BUFFER */
 
-static inline int iio_buffer_register(struct iio_dev *indio_dev,
-					   const struct iio_chan_spec *channels,
-					   int num_channels)
-{
-	return 0;
-}
-
-static inline void iio_buffer_unregister(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
-{}
-
 static inline void iio_buffer_get(struct iio_buffer *buffer) {}
 static inline void iio_buffer_put(struct iio_buffer *buffer) {}