diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/mal.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/mal.c
index 2439f7e96e056..d92dd9c83031e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/mal.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/mal.c
@@ -605,9 +605,13 @@ static int mal_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&mal->list);
 	spin_lock_init(&mal->lock);
 
-	init_dummy_netdev(&mal->dummy_dev);
+	mal->dummy_dev = alloc_netdev_dummy(0);
+	if (!mal->dummy_dev) {
+		err = -ENOMEM;
+		goto fail_unmap;
+	}
 
-	netif_napi_add_weight(&mal->dummy_dev, &mal->napi, mal_poll,
+	netif_napi_add_weight(mal->dummy_dev, &mal->napi, mal_poll,
 			      CONFIG_IBM_EMAC_POLL_WEIGHT);
 
 	/* Load power-on reset defaults */
@@ -637,7 +641,7 @@ static int mal_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 					  GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (mal->bd_virt == NULL) {
 		err = -ENOMEM;
-		goto fail_unmap;
+		goto fail_dummy;
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < mal->num_tx_chans; ++i)
@@ -703,6 +707,8 @@ static int mal_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 	free_irq(mal->serr_irq, mal);
  fail2:
 	dma_free_coherent(&ofdev->dev, bd_size, mal->bd_virt, mal->bd_dma);
+ fail_dummy:
+	free_netdev(mal->dummy_dev);
  fail_unmap:
 	dcr_unmap(mal->dcr_host, 0x100);
  fail:
@@ -734,6 +740,8 @@ static void mal_remove(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 
 	mal_reset(mal);
 
+	free_netdev(mal->dummy_dev);
+
 	dma_free_coherent(&ofdev->dev,
 			  sizeof(struct mal_descriptor) *
 			  (NUM_TX_BUFF * mal->num_tx_chans +
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/mal.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/mal.h
index d212373a72e7c..e0ddc41186a28 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/mal.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/mal.h
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ struct mal_instance {
 	int			index;
 	spinlock_t		lock;
 
-	struct net_device	dummy_dev;
+	struct net_device	*dummy_dev;
 
 	unsigned int features;
 };
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/prestera/prestera_rxtx.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/prestera/prestera_rxtx.c
index cc2a9ae794bea..39d9bf82c1155 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/prestera/prestera_rxtx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/prestera/prestera_rxtx.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ struct prestera_sdma {
 	struct dma_pool *desc_pool;
 	struct work_struct tx_work;
 	struct napi_struct rx_napi;
-	struct net_device napi_dev;
+	struct net_device *napi_dev;
 	u32 map_addr;
 	u64 dma_mask;
 	/* protect SDMA with concurrent access from multiple CPUs */
@@ -654,13 +654,21 @@ static int prestera_sdma_switch_init(struct prestera_switch *sw)
 	if (err)
 		goto err_evt_register;
 
-	init_dummy_netdev(&sdma->napi_dev);
+	sdma->napi_dev = alloc_netdev_dummy(0);
+	if (!sdma->napi_dev) {
+		dev_err(dev, "not able to initialize dummy device\n");
+		err = -ENOMEM;
+		goto err_alloc_dummy;
+	}
 
-	netif_napi_add(&sdma->napi_dev, &sdma->rx_napi, prestera_sdma_rx_poll);
+	netif_napi_add(sdma->napi_dev, &sdma->rx_napi, prestera_sdma_rx_poll);
 	napi_enable(&sdma->rx_napi);
 
 	return 0;
 
+err_alloc_dummy:
+	prestera_hw_event_handler_unregister(sw, PRESTERA_EVENT_TYPE_RXTX,
+					     prestera_rxtx_handle_event);
 err_evt_register:
 err_tx_init:
 	prestera_sdma_tx_fini(sdma);
@@ -677,6 +685,7 @@ static void prestera_sdma_switch_fini(struct prestera_switch *sw)
 
 	napi_disable(&sdma->rx_napi);
 	netif_napi_del(&sdma->rx_napi);
+	free_netdev(sdma->napi_dev);
 	prestera_hw_event_handler_unregister(sw, PRESTERA_EVENT_TYPE_RXTX,
 					     prestera_rxtx_handle_event);
 	prestera_sdma_tx_fini(sdma);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.c
index caa13b9cedff0..d7a96dc11c079 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.c
@@ -1710,7 +1710,7 @@ static struct page_pool *mtk_create_page_pool(struct mtk_eth *eth,
 	if (IS_ERR(pp))
 		return pp;
 
-	err = __xdp_rxq_info_reg(xdp_q, &eth->dummy_dev, id,
+	err = __xdp_rxq_info_reg(xdp_q, eth->dummy_dev, id,
 				 eth->rx_napi.napi_id, PAGE_SIZE);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto err_free_pp;
@@ -4188,6 +4188,8 @@ static int mtk_free_dev(struct mtk_eth *eth)
 		metadata_dst_free(eth->dsa_meta[i]);
 	}
 
+	free_netdev(eth->dummy_dev);
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -4983,9 +4985,14 @@ static int mtk_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	/* we run 2 devices on the same DMA ring so we need a dummy device
 	 * for NAPI to work
 	 */
-	init_dummy_netdev(&eth->dummy_dev);
-	netif_napi_add(&eth->dummy_dev, &eth->tx_napi, mtk_napi_tx);
-	netif_napi_add(&eth->dummy_dev, &eth->rx_napi, mtk_napi_rx);
+	eth->dummy_dev = alloc_netdev_dummy(0);
+	if (!eth->dummy_dev) {
+		err = -ENOMEM;
+		dev_err(eth->dev, "failed to allocated dummy device\n");
+		goto err_unreg_netdev;
+	}
+	netif_napi_add(eth->dummy_dev, &eth->tx_napi, mtk_napi_tx);
+	netif_napi_add(eth->dummy_dev, &eth->rx_napi, mtk_napi_rx);
 
 	platform_set_drvdata(pdev, eth);
 	schedule_delayed_work(&eth->reset.monitor_work,
@@ -4993,6 +5000,8 @@ static int mtk_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	return 0;
 
+err_unreg_netdev:
+	mtk_unreg_dev(eth);
 err_deinit_ppe:
 	mtk_ppe_deinit(eth);
 	mtk_mdio_cleanup(eth);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.h
index 9ae3b8a71d0e6..723fc637027c4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.h
@@ -1242,7 +1242,7 @@ struct mtk_eth {
 	spinlock_t			page_lock;
 	spinlock_t			tx_irq_lock;
 	spinlock_t			rx_irq_lock;
-	struct net_device		dummy_dev;
+	struct net_device		*dummy_dev;
 	struct net_device		*netdev[MTK_MAX_DEVS];
 	struct mtk_mac			*mac[MTK_MAX_DEVS];
 	int				irq[3];
diff --git a/drivers/net/ipa/gsi.c b/drivers/net/ipa/gsi.c
index 6c8feb640a97e..4c3227e77898c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ipa/gsi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ipa/gsi.c
@@ -1728,10 +1728,10 @@ static int gsi_channel_setup_one(struct gsi *gsi, u32 channel_id)
 	gsi_channel_program(channel, true);
 
 	if (channel->toward_ipa)
-		netif_napi_add_tx(&gsi->dummy_dev, &channel->napi,
+		netif_napi_add_tx(gsi->dummy_dev, &channel->napi,
 				  gsi_channel_poll);
 	else
-		netif_napi_add(&gsi->dummy_dev, &channel->napi,
+		netif_napi_add(gsi->dummy_dev, &channel->napi,
 			       gsi_channel_poll);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -2367,12 +2367,14 @@ int gsi_init(struct gsi *gsi, struct platform_device *pdev,
 	/* GSI uses NAPI on all channels.  Create a dummy network device
 	 * for the channel NAPI contexts to be associated with.
 	 */
-	init_dummy_netdev(&gsi->dummy_dev);
+	gsi->dummy_dev = alloc_netdev_dummy(0);
+	if (!gsi->dummy_dev)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 	init_completion(&gsi->completion);
 
 	ret = gsi_reg_init(gsi, pdev);
 	if (ret)
-		return ret;
+		goto err_reg_exit;
 
 	ret = gsi_irq_init(gsi, pdev);	/* No matching exit required */
 	if (ret)
@@ -2387,6 +2389,7 @@ int gsi_init(struct gsi *gsi, struct platform_device *pdev,
 	return 0;
 
 err_reg_exit:
+	free_netdev(gsi->dummy_dev);
 	gsi_reg_exit(gsi);
 
 	return ret;
@@ -2397,6 +2400,7 @@ void gsi_exit(struct gsi *gsi)
 {
 	mutex_destroy(&gsi->mutex);
 	gsi_channel_exit(gsi);
+	free_netdev(gsi->dummy_dev);
 	gsi_reg_exit(gsi);
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ipa/gsi.h b/drivers/net/ipa/gsi.h
index 833135b35380f..9d8e05d950e34 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ipa/gsi.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ipa/gsi.h
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ struct gsi {
 	struct mutex mutex;		/* protects commands, programming */
 	struct gsi_channel channel[GSI_CHANNEL_COUNT_MAX];
 	struct gsi_evt_ring evt_ring[GSI_EVT_RING_COUNT_MAX];
-	struct net_device dummy_dev;	/* needed for NAPI */
+	struct net_device *dummy_dev;	/* needed for NAPI */
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.c
index 9ce6f49ab2614..8663822e0b8d3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.c
@@ -3673,11 +3673,13 @@ struct ath10k *ath10k_core_create(size_t priv_size, struct device *dev,
 	INIT_WORK(&ar->set_coverage_class_work,
 		  ath10k_core_set_coverage_class_work);
 
-	init_dummy_netdev(&ar->napi_dev);
+	ar->napi_dev = alloc_netdev_dummy(0);
+	if (!ar->napi_dev)
+		goto err_free_tx_complete;
 
 	ret = ath10k_coredump_create(ar);
 	if (ret)
-		goto err_free_tx_complete;
+		goto err_free_netdev;
 
 	ret = ath10k_debug_create(ar);
 	if (ret)
@@ -3687,6 +3689,8 @@ struct ath10k *ath10k_core_create(size_t priv_size, struct device *dev,
 
 err_free_coredump:
 	ath10k_coredump_destroy(ar);
+err_free_netdev:
+	free_netdev(ar->napi_dev);
 err_free_tx_complete:
 	destroy_workqueue(ar->workqueue_tx_complete);
 err_free_aux_wq:
@@ -3708,6 +3712,7 @@ void ath10k_core_destroy(struct ath10k *ar)
 
 	destroy_workqueue(ar->workqueue_tx_complete);
 
+	free_netdev(ar->napi_dev);
 	ath10k_debug_destroy(ar);
 	ath10k_coredump_destroy(ar);
 	ath10k_htt_tx_destroy(&ar->htt);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.h
index c110d15528bd0..26003b5195747 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/core.h
@@ -1269,7 +1269,7 @@ struct ath10k {
 	struct ath10k_per_peer_tx_stats peer_tx_stats;
 
 	/* NAPI */
-	struct net_device napi_dev;
+	struct net_device *napi_dev;
 	struct napi_struct napi;
 
 	struct work_struct set_coverage_class_work;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/pci.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/pci.c
index 5c34b156b4ff4..558bec96ae40e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/pci.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/pci.c
@@ -3217,7 +3217,7 @@ static void ath10k_pci_free_irq(struct ath10k *ar)
 
 void ath10k_pci_init_napi(struct ath10k *ar)
 {
-	netif_napi_add(&ar->napi_dev, &ar->napi, ath10k_pci_napi_poll);
+	netif_napi_add(ar->napi_dev, &ar->napi, ath10k_pci_napi_poll);
 }
 
 static int ath10k_pci_init_irq(struct ath10k *ar)
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/sdio.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/sdio.c
index 0ab5433f6cf6f..e28f2fe1101b2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/sdio.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/sdio.c
@@ -2532,7 +2532,7 @@ static int ath10k_sdio_probe(struct sdio_func *func,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	netif_napi_add(&ar->napi_dev, &ar->napi, ath10k_sdio_napi_poll);
+	netif_napi_add(ar->napi_dev, &ar->napi, ath10k_sdio_napi_poll);
 
 	ath10k_dbg(ar, ATH10K_DBG_BOOT,
 		   "sdio new func %d vendor 0x%x device 0x%x block 0x%x/0x%x\n",
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/snoc.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/snoc.c
index 2c39bad7ebfb9..0449b9ffc32d7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/snoc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/snoc.c
@@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ static int ath10k_snoc_hif_start(struct ath10k *ar)
 
 	bitmap_clear(ar_snoc->pending_ce_irqs, 0, CE_COUNT_MAX);
 
-	dev_set_threaded(&ar->napi_dev, true);
+	dev_set_threaded(ar->napi_dev, true);
 	ath10k_core_napi_enable(ar);
 	ath10k_snoc_irq_enable(ar);
 	ath10k_snoc_rx_post(ar);
@@ -1253,7 +1253,7 @@ static int ath10k_snoc_napi_poll(struct napi_struct *ctx, int budget)
 
 static void ath10k_snoc_init_napi(struct ath10k *ar)
 {
-	netif_napi_add(&ar->napi_dev, &ar->napi, ath10k_snoc_napi_poll);
+	netif_napi_add(ar->napi_dev, &ar->napi, ath10k_snoc_napi_poll);
 }
 
 static int ath10k_snoc_request_irq(struct ath10k *ar)
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/usb.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/usb.c
index 3c482baacec10..3b51b7f52130e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/usb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/usb.c
@@ -1014,7 +1014,7 @@ static int ath10k_usb_probe(struct usb_interface *interface,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	netif_napi_add(&ar->napi_dev, &ar->napi, ath10k_usb_napi_poll);
+	netif_napi_add(ar->napi_dev, &ar->napi, ath10k_usb_napi_poll);
 
 	usb_get_dev(dev);
 	vendor_id = le16_to_cpu(dev->descriptor.idVendor);
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/ahb.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/ahb.c
index 7c0a235179497..7f3f6479d553d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/ahb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/ahb.c
@@ -442,6 +442,7 @@ static void ath11k_ahb_free_ext_irq(struct ath11k_base *ab)
 			free_irq(ab->irq_num[irq_grp->irqs[j]], irq_grp);
 
 		netif_napi_del(&irq_grp->napi);
+		free_netdev(irq_grp->napi_ndev);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -533,8 +534,12 @@ static int ath11k_ahb_config_ext_irq(struct ath11k_base *ab)
 
 		irq_grp->ab = ab;
 		irq_grp->grp_id = i;
-		init_dummy_netdev(&irq_grp->napi_ndev);
-		netif_napi_add(&irq_grp->napi_ndev, &irq_grp->napi,
+
+		irq_grp->napi_ndev = alloc_netdev_dummy(0);
+		if (!irq_grp->napi_ndev)
+			return -ENOMEM;
+
+		netif_napi_add(irq_grp->napi_ndev, &irq_grp->napi,
 			       ath11k_ahb_ext_grp_napi_poll);
 
 		for (j = 0; j < ATH11K_EXT_IRQ_NUM_MAX; j++) {
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.h
index b3fb74a226fb9..590307ca7a110 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/core.h
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ struct ath11k_ext_irq_grp {
 	u64 timestamp;
 	bool napi_enabled;
 	struct napi_struct napi;
-	struct net_device napi_ndev;
+	struct net_device *napi_ndev;
 };
 
 enum ath11k_smbios_cc_type {
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/pcic.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/pcic.c
index add4db4c50bcc..79eb3f9c902f4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/pcic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath11k/pcic.c
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@ static void ath11k_pcic_free_ext_irq(struct ath11k_base *ab)
 			free_irq(ab->irq_num[irq_grp->irqs[j]], irq_grp);
 
 		netif_napi_del(&irq_grp->napi);
+		free_netdev(irq_grp->napi_ndev);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -558,7 +559,7 @@ ath11k_pcic_get_msi_irq(struct ath11k_base *ab, unsigned int vector)
 
 static int ath11k_pcic_ext_irq_config(struct ath11k_base *ab)
 {
-	int i, j, ret, num_vectors = 0;
+	int i, j, n, ret, num_vectors = 0;
 	u32 user_base_data = 0, base_vector = 0;
 	unsigned long irq_flags;
 
@@ -578,8 +579,11 @@ static int ath11k_pcic_ext_irq_config(struct ath11k_base *ab)
 
 		irq_grp->ab = ab;
 		irq_grp->grp_id = i;
-		init_dummy_netdev(&irq_grp->napi_ndev);
-		netif_napi_add(&irq_grp->napi_ndev, &irq_grp->napi,
+		irq_grp->napi_ndev = alloc_netdev_dummy(0);
+		if (!irq_grp->napi_ndev)
+			return -ENOMEM;
+
+		netif_napi_add(irq_grp->napi_ndev, &irq_grp->napi,
 			       ath11k_pcic_ext_grp_napi_poll);
 
 		if (ab->hw_params.ring_mask->tx[i] ||
@@ -601,8 +605,13 @@ static int ath11k_pcic_ext_irq_config(struct ath11k_base *ab)
 			int vector = (i % num_vectors) + base_vector;
 			int irq = ath11k_pcic_get_msi_irq(ab, vector);
 
-			if (irq < 0)
+			if (irq < 0) {
+				for (n = 0; n <= i; n++) {
+					irq_grp = &ab->ext_irq_grp[n];
+					free_netdev(irq_grp->napi_ndev);
+				}
 				return irq;
+			}
 
 			ab->irq_num[irq_idx] = irq;
 
@@ -615,6 +624,10 @@ static int ath11k_pcic_ext_irq_config(struct ath11k_base *ab)
 			if (ret) {
 				ath11k_err(ab, "failed request irq %d: %d\n",
 					   vector, ret);
+				for (n = 0; n <= i; n++) {
+					irq_grp = &ab->ext_irq_grp[n];
+					free_netdev(irq_grp->napi_ndev);
+				}
 				return ret;
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/pcie/pcie.c b/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/pcie/pcie.c
index f8f55db2f454d..f66eb43094d4f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/pcie/pcie.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/quantenna/qtnfmac/pcie/pcie.c
@@ -372,8 +372,7 @@ static int qtnf_pcie_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *id)
 		goto error;
 	}
 
-	bus->mux_dev = alloc_netdev(0, "dummy", NET_NAME_UNKNOWN,
-				    init_dummy_netdev);
+	bus->mux_dev = alloc_netdev_dummy(0);
 	if (!bus->mux_dev) {
 		ret = -ENOMEM;
 		goto error;
diff --git a/include/linux/netdevice.h b/include/linux/netdevice.h
index d45f330d083df..f849e7d110ed9 100644
--- a/include/linux/netdevice.h
+++ b/include/linux/netdevice.h
@@ -4519,6 +4519,9 @@ static inline void netif_addr_unlock_bh(struct net_device *dev)
 
 void ether_setup(struct net_device *dev);
 
+/* Allocate dummy net_device */
+struct net_device *alloc_netdev_dummy(int sizeof_priv);
+
 /* Support for loadable net-drivers */
 struct net_device *alloc_netdev_mqs(int sizeof_priv, const char *name,
 				    unsigned char name_assign_type,
diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index 8bdc59074b29c..e09aa3785c159 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -10420,25 +10420,12 @@ int register_netdevice(struct net_device *dev)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(register_netdevice);
 
-/**
- *	init_dummy_netdev	- init a dummy network device for NAPI
- *	@dev: device to init
- *
- *	This takes a network device structure and initialize the minimum
- *	amount of fields so it can be used to schedule NAPI polls without
- *	registering a full blown interface. This is to be used by drivers
- *	that need to tie several hardware interfaces to a single NAPI
- *	poll scheduler due to HW limitations.
+/* Initialize the core of a dummy net device.
+ * This is useful if you are calling this function after alloc_netdev(),
+ * since it does not memset the net_device fields.
  */
-void init_dummy_netdev(struct net_device *dev)
+static void init_dummy_netdev_core(struct net_device *dev)
 {
-	/* Clear everything. Note we don't initialize spinlocks
-	 * are they aren't supposed to be taken by any of the
-	 * NAPI code and this dummy netdev is supposed to be
-	 * only ever used for NAPI polls
-	 */
-	memset(dev, 0, sizeof(struct net_device));
-
 	/* make sure we BUG if trying to hit standard
 	 * register/unregister code path
 	 */
@@ -10459,8 +10446,28 @@ void init_dummy_netdev(struct net_device *dev)
 	 * its refcount.
 	 */
 }
-EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(init_dummy_netdev);
 
+/**
+ *	init_dummy_netdev	- init a dummy network device for NAPI
+ *	@dev: device to init
+ *
+ *	This takes a network device structure and initializes the minimum
+ *	amount of fields so it can be used to schedule NAPI polls without
+ *	registering a full blown interface. This is to be used by drivers
+ *	that need to tie several hardware interfaces to a single NAPI
+ *	poll scheduler due to HW limitations.
+ */
+void init_dummy_netdev(struct net_device *dev)
+{
+	/* Clear everything. Note we don't initialize spinlocks
+	 * as they aren't supposed to be taken by any of the
+	 * NAPI code and this dummy netdev is supposed to be
+	 * only ever used for NAPI polls
+	 */
+	memset(dev, 0, sizeof(struct net_device));
+	init_dummy_netdev_core(dev);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(init_dummy_netdev);
 
 /**
  *	register_netdev	- register a network device
@@ -11066,7 +11073,8 @@ void free_netdev(struct net_device *dev)
 	phy_link_topo_destroy(dev->link_topo);
 
 	/*  Compatibility with error handling in drivers */
-	if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED) {
+	if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED ||
+	    dev->reg_state == NETREG_DUMMY) {
 		netdev_freemem(dev);
 		return;
 	}
@@ -11079,6 +11087,19 @@ void free_netdev(struct net_device *dev)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(free_netdev);
 
+/**
+ * alloc_netdev_dummy - Allocate and initialize a dummy net device.
+ * @sizeof_priv: size of private data to allocate space for
+ *
+ * Return: the allocated net_device on success, NULL otherwise
+ */
+struct net_device *alloc_netdev_dummy(int sizeof_priv)
+{
+	return alloc_netdev(sizeof_priv, "dummy#", NET_NAME_UNKNOWN,
+			    init_dummy_netdev_core);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(alloc_netdev_dummy);
+
 /**
  *	synchronize_net -  Synchronize with packet receive processing
  *