diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
index 7788e1730063983918036a96da01d54735bb656a..9b9d808578b9bef5ed1393efc1c45e7fec3fab6a 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
@@ -696,8 +696,6 @@ int i2c_attach_client(struct i2c_client *client)
 	}
 	list_add_tail(&client->list,&adapter->clients);
 
-	client->usage_count = 0;
-
 	client->dev.parent = &client->adapter->dev;
 	client->dev.bus = &i2c_bus_type;
 
@@ -744,12 +742,6 @@ int i2c_detach_client(struct i2c_client *client)
 	struct i2c_adapter *adapter = client->adapter;
 	int res = 0;
 
-	if (client->usage_count > 0) {
-		dev_warn(&client->dev, "Client [%s] still busy, "
-			 "can't detach\n", client->name);
-		return -EBUSY;
-	}
-
 	if (adapter->client_unregister)  {
 		res = adapter->client_unregister(client);
 		if (res) {
@@ -772,50 +764,16 @@ int i2c_detach_client(struct i2c_client *client)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(i2c_detach_client);
 
-static int i2c_inc_use_client(struct i2c_client *client)
-{
-
-	if (!try_module_get(client->driver->driver.owner))
-		return -ENODEV;
-	if (!try_module_get(client->adapter->owner)) {
-		module_put(client->driver->driver.owner);
-		return -ENODEV;
-	}
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
-static void i2c_dec_use_client(struct i2c_client *client)
-{
-	module_put(client->driver->driver.owner);
-	module_put(client->adapter->owner);
-}
-
 int i2c_use_client(struct i2c_client *client)
 {
-	int ret;
-
-	ret = i2c_inc_use_client(client);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
-
-	client->usage_count++;
-
+	get_device(&client->dev);
 	return 0;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(i2c_use_client);
 
 int i2c_release_client(struct i2c_client *client)
 {
-	if (!client->usage_count) {
-		pr_debug("i2c-core: %s used one too many times\n",
-			 __FUNCTION__);
-		return -EPERM;
-	}
-
-	client->usage_count--;
-	i2c_dec_use_client(client);
-
+	put_device(&client->dev);
 	return 0;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(i2c_release_client);
diff --git a/drivers/media/video/ks0127.c b/drivers/media/video/ks0127.c
index b6cd21e6dab93140a44551e31029682476bdb673..4895540be195ad0e8854b563c6eb53a50d5ccb14 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/ks0127.c
+++ b/drivers/media/video/ks0127.c
@@ -764,7 +764,6 @@ static struct i2c_client ks0127_client_tmpl =
 	.addr = 0,
 	.adapter = NULL,
 	.driver = &i2c_driver_ks0127,
-	.usage_count = 0
 };
 
 static int ks0127_found_proc(struct i2c_adapter *adapter, int addr, int kind)
diff --git a/include/linux/i2c.h b/include/linux/i2c.h
index 37c14b08d61aa9525e88de75f0e3bcd20bdde795..f7cd2f370c39714ac398b2ebf7e86bdc5afa7f5d 100644
--- a/include/linux/i2c.h
+++ b/include/linux/i2c.h
@@ -155,7 +155,6 @@ struct i2c_driver {
  *	generic enough to hide second-sourcing and compatible revisions.
  * @adapter: manages the bus segment hosting this I2C device
  * @driver: device's driver, hence pointer to access routines
- * @usage_count: counts current number of users of this client
  * @dev: Driver model device node for the slave.
  * @irq: indicates the IRQ generated by this device (if any)
  * @driver_name: Identifies new-style driver used with this device; also
@@ -175,8 +174,6 @@ struct i2c_client {
 	char name[I2C_NAME_SIZE];
 	struct i2c_adapter *adapter;	/* the adapter we sit on	*/
 	struct i2c_driver *driver;	/* and our access routines	*/
-	int usage_count;		/* How many accesses currently  */
-					/* to the client		*/
 	struct device dev;		/* the device structure		*/
 	int irq;			/* irq issued by device (or -1) */
 	char driver_name[KOBJ_NAME_LEN];