diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_drv.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_drv.c
index d88a3b9d59cc1..3c628e43bf257 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_drv.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_drv.c
@@ -185,25 +185,29 @@ static int malidp_set_and_wait_config_valid(struct drm_device *drm)
 
 static void malidp_atomic_commit_hw_done(struct drm_atomic_state *state)
 {
-	struct drm_pending_vblank_event *event;
 	struct drm_device *drm = state->dev;
 	struct malidp_drm *malidp = drm->dev_private;
 
-	if (malidp->crtc.enabled) {
-		/* only set config_valid if the CRTC is enabled */
-		if (malidp_set_and_wait_config_valid(drm))
-			DRM_DEBUG_DRIVER("timed out waiting for updated configuration\n");
-	}
+	malidp->event = malidp->crtc.state->event;
+	malidp->crtc.state->event = NULL;
 
-	event = malidp->crtc.state->event;
-	if (event) {
-		malidp->crtc.state->event = NULL;
+	if (malidp->crtc.state->active) {
+		/*
+		 * if we have an event to deliver to userspace, make sure
+		 * the vblank is enabled as we are sending it from the IRQ
+		 * handler.
+		 */
+		if (malidp->event)
+			drm_crtc_vblank_get(&malidp->crtc);
 
+		/* only set config_valid if the CRTC is enabled */
+		if (malidp_set_and_wait_config_valid(drm) < 0)
+			DRM_DEBUG_DRIVER("timed out waiting for updated configuration\n");
+	} else if (malidp->event) {
+		/* CRTC inactive means vblank IRQ is disabled, send event directly */
 		spin_lock_irq(&drm->event_lock);
-		if (drm_crtc_vblank_get(&malidp->crtc) == 0)
-			drm_crtc_arm_vblank_event(&malidp->crtc, event);
-		else
-			drm_crtc_send_vblank_event(&malidp->crtc, event);
+		drm_crtc_send_vblank_event(&malidp->crtc, malidp->event);
+		malidp->event = NULL;
 		spin_unlock_irq(&drm->event_lock);
 	}
 	drm_atomic_helper_commit_hw_done(state);
@@ -232,8 +236,6 @@ static void malidp_atomic_commit_tail(struct drm_atomic_state *state)
 
 	malidp_atomic_commit_hw_done(state);
 
-	drm_atomic_helper_wait_for_vblanks(drm, state);
-
 	pm_runtime_put(drm->dev);
 
 	drm_atomic_helper_cleanup_planes(drm, state);
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_drv.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_drv.h
index e0d12c9fc6b80..c2375bb496192 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_drv.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_drv.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ struct malidp_drm {
 	struct malidp_hw_device *dev;
 	struct drm_crtc crtc;
 	wait_queue_head_t wq;
+	struct drm_pending_vblank_event *event;
 	atomic_t config_valid;
 	u32 core_id;
 };
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_hw.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_hw.c
index 2bfb542135ac5..8abd335ec3138 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_hw.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/arm/malidp_hw.c
@@ -782,9 +782,15 @@ static irqreturn_t malidp_de_irq(int irq, void *arg)
 	/* first handle the config valid IRQ */
 	dc_status = malidp_hw_read(hwdev, hw->map.dc_base + MALIDP_REG_STATUS);
 	if (dc_status & hw->map.dc_irq_map.vsync_irq) {
-		/* we have a page flip event */
-		atomic_set(&malidp->config_valid, 1);
 		malidp_hw_clear_irq(hwdev, MALIDP_DC_BLOCK, dc_status);
+		/* do we have a page flip event? */
+		if (malidp->event != NULL) {
+			spin_lock(&drm->event_lock);
+			drm_crtc_send_vblank_event(&malidp->crtc, malidp->event);
+			malidp->event = NULL;
+			spin_unlock(&drm->event_lock);
+		}
+		atomic_set(&malidp->config_valid, 1);
 		ret = IRQ_WAKE_THREAD;
 	}
 
@@ -794,7 +800,7 @@ static irqreturn_t malidp_de_irq(int irq, void *arg)
 
 	mask = malidp_hw_read(hwdev, MALIDP_REG_MASKIRQ);
 	status &= mask;
-	if (status & de->vsync_irq)
+	if ((status & de->vsync_irq) && malidp->crtc.enabled)
 		drm_crtc_handle_vblank(&malidp->crtc);
 
 	malidp_hw_clear_irq(hwdev, MALIDP_DE_BLOCK, status);