diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/gtt.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/gtt.c
index 9c5cc2800975..b4f69364f9a1 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/gtt.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/gtt.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ static int preallocated_oos_pages = 8192;
 
 static bool intel_gvt_is_valid_gfn(struct intel_vgpu *vgpu, unsigned long gfn)
 {
-	struct kvm *kvm = vgpu->kvm;
+	struct kvm *kvm = vgpu->vfio_device.kvm;
 	int idx;
 	bool ret;
 
@@ -1185,7 +1185,7 @@ static int is_2MB_gtt_possible(struct intel_vgpu *vgpu,
 
 	if (!vgpu->attached)
 		return -EINVAL;
-	pfn = gfn_to_pfn(vgpu->kvm, ops->get_pfn(entry));
+	pfn = gfn_to_pfn(vgpu->vfio_device.kvm, ops->get_pfn(entry));
 	if (is_error_noslot_pfn(pfn))
 		return -EINVAL;
 	return PageTransHuge(pfn_to_page(pfn));
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/gvt.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/gvt.h
index 2af4c83e733c..aee1a45da74b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/gvt.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/gvt.h
@@ -227,9 +227,6 @@ struct intel_vgpu {
 	struct mutex cache_lock;
 
 	struct notifier_block iommu_notifier;
-	struct notifier_block group_notifier;
-	struct kvm *kvm;
-	struct work_struct release_work;
 	atomic_t released;
 
 	struct kvm_page_track_notifier_node track_node;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/kvmgt.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/kvmgt.c
index 7655ffa97d51..e2f6c56ab342 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/kvmgt.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gvt/kvmgt.c
@@ -228,8 +228,6 @@ static void intel_gvt_cleanup_vgpu_type_groups(struct intel_gvt *gvt)
 	}
 }
 
-static void intel_vgpu_release_work(struct work_struct *work);
-
 static void gvt_unpin_guest_page(struct intel_vgpu *vgpu, unsigned long gfn,
 		unsigned long size)
 {
@@ -761,23 +759,6 @@ static int intel_vgpu_iommu_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb,
 	return NOTIFY_OK;
 }
 
-static int intel_vgpu_group_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb,
-				     unsigned long action, void *data)
-{
-	struct intel_vgpu *vgpu =
-		container_of(nb, struct intel_vgpu, group_notifier);
-
-	/* the only action we care about */
-	if (action == VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM) {
-		vgpu->kvm = data;
-
-		if (!data)
-			schedule_work(&vgpu->release_work);
-	}
-
-	return NOTIFY_OK;
-}
-
 static bool __kvmgt_vgpu_exist(struct intel_vgpu *vgpu)
 {
 	struct intel_vgpu *itr;
@@ -789,7 +770,7 @@ static bool __kvmgt_vgpu_exist(struct intel_vgpu *vgpu)
 		if (!itr->attached)
 			continue;
 
-		if (vgpu->kvm == itr->kvm) {
+		if (vgpu->vfio_device.kvm == itr->vfio_device.kvm) {
 			ret = true;
 			goto out;
 		}
@@ -806,7 +787,6 @@ static int intel_vgpu_open_device(struct vfio_device *vfio_dev)
 	int ret;
 
 	vgpu->iommu_notifier.notifier_call = intel_vgpu_iommu_notifier;
-	vgpu->group_notifier.notifier_call = intel_vgpu_group_notifier;
 
 	events = VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY_DMA_UNMAP;
 	ret = vfio_register_notifier(vfio_dev, VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY, &events,
@@ -817,38 +797,32 @@ static int intel_vgpu_open_device(struct vfio_device *vfio_dev)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	events = VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM;
-	ret = vfio_register_notifier(vfio_dev, VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY, &events,
-				     &vgpu->group_notifier);
-	if (ret != 0) {
-		gvt_vgpu_err("vfio_register_notifier for group failed: %d\n",
-			ret);
+	ret = -EEXIST;
+	if (vgpu->attached)
+		goto undo_iommu;
+
+	ret = -ESRCH;
+	if (!vgpu->vfio_device.kvm ||
+	    vgpu->vfio_device.kvm->mm != current->mm) {
+		gvt_vgpu_err("KVM is required to use Intel vGPU\n");
 		goto undo_iommu;
 	}
 
-	ret = -EEXIST;
-	if (vgpu->attached)
-		goto undo_register;
-
-	ret = -ESRCH;
-	if (!vgpu->kvm || vgpu->kvm->mm != current->mm) {
-		gvt_vgpu_err("KVM is required to use Intel vGPU\n");
-		goto undo_register;
-	}
+	kvm_get_kvm(vgpu->vfio_device.kvm);
 
 	ret = -EEXIST;
 	if (__kvmgt_vgpu_exist(vgpu))
-		goto undo_register;
+		goto undo_iommu;
 
 	vgpu->attached = true;
-	kvm_get_kvm(vgpu->kvm);
 
 	kvmgt_protect_table_init(vgpu);
 	gvt_cache_init(vgpu);
 
 	vgpu->track_node.track_write = kvmgt_page_track_write;
 	vgpu->track_node.track_flush_slot = kvmgt_page_track_flush_slot;
-	kvm_page_track_register_notifier(vgpu->kvm, &vgpu->track_node);
+	kvm_page_track_register_notifier(vgpu->vfio_device.kvm,
+					 &vgpu->track_node);
 
 	debugfs_create_ulong(KVMGT_DEBUGFS_FILENAME, 0444, vgpu->debugfs,
 			     &vgpu->nr_cache_entries);
@@ -858,10 +832,6 @@ static int intel_vgpu_open_device(struct vfio_device *vfio_dev)
 	atomic_set(&vgpu->released, 0);
 	return 0;
 
-undo_register:
-	vfio_unregister_notifier(vfio_dev, VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY,
-				 &vgpu->group_notifier);
-
 undo_iommu:
 	vfio_unregister_notifier(vfio_dev, VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY,
 				 &vgpu->iommu_notifier);
@@ -880,8 +850,9 @@ static void intel_vgpu_release_msi_eventfd_ctx(struct intel_vgpu *vgpu)
 	}
 }
 
-static void __intel_vgpu_release(struct intel_vgpu *vgpu)
+static void intel_vgpu_close_device(struct vfio_device *vfio_dev)
 {
+	struct intel_vgpu *vgpu = vfio_dev_to_vgpu(vfio_dev);
 	struct drm_i915_private *i915 = vgpu->gvt->gt->i915;
 	int ret;
 
@@ -898,35 +869,19 @@ static void __intel_vgpu_release(struct intel_vgpu *vgpu)
 	drm_WARN(&i915->drm, ret,
 		 "vfio_unregister_notifier for iommu failed: %d\n", ret);
 
-	ret = vfio_unregister_notifier(&vgpu->vfio_device, VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY,
-				       &vgpu->group_notifier);
-	drm_WARN(&i915->drm, ret,
-		 "vfio_unregister_notifier for group failed: %d\n", ret);
-
 	debugfs_remove(debugfs_lookup(KVMGT_DEBUGFS_FILENAME, vgpu->debugfs));
 
-	kvm_page_track_unregister_notifier(vgpu->kvm, &vgpu->track_node);
-	kvm_put_kvm(vgpu->kvm);
+	kvm_page_track_unregister_notifier(vgpu->vfio_device.kvm,
+					   &vgpu->track_node);
 	kvmgt_protect_table_destroy(vgpu);
 	gvt_cache_destroy(vgpu);
 
 	intel_vgpu_release_msi_eventfd_ctx(vgpu);
 
-	vgpu->kvm = NULL;
 	vgpu->attached = false;
-}
 
-static void intel_vgpu_close_device(struct vfio_device *vfio_dev)
-{
-	__intel_vgpu_release(vfio_dev_to_vgpu(vfio_dev));
-}
-
-static void intel_vgpu_release_work(struct work_struct *work)
-{
-	struct intel_vgpu *vgpu =
-		container_of(work, struct intel_vgpu, release_work);
-
-	__intel_vgpu_release(vgpu);
+	if (vgpu->vfio_device.kvm)
+		kvm_put_kvm(vgpu->vfio_device.kvm);
 }
 
 static u64 intel_vgpu_get_bar_addr(struct intel_vgpu *vgpu, int bar)
@@ -1675,7 +1630,6 @@ static int intel_vgpu_probe(struct mdev_device *mdev)
 		return PTR_ERR(vgpu);
 	}
 
-	INIT_WORK(&vgpu->release_work, intel_vgpu_release_work);
 	vfio_init_group_dev(&vgpu->vfio_device, &mdev->dev,
 			    &intel_vgpu_dev_ops);
 
@@ -1713,7 +1667,7 @@ static struct mdev_driver intel_vgpu_mdev_driver = {
 
 int intel_gvt_page_track_add(struct intel_vgpu *info, u64 gfn)
 {
-	struct kvm *kvm = info->kvm;
+	struct kvm *kvm = info->vfio_device.kvm;
 	struct kvm_memory_slot *slot;
 	int idx;
 
@@ -1743,7 +1697,7 @@ out:
 
 int intel_gvt_page_track_remove(struct intel_vgpu *info, u64 gfn)
 {
-	struct kvm *kvm = info->kvm;
+	struct kvm *kvm = info->vfio_device.kvm;
 	struct kvm_memory_slot *slot;
 	int idx;
 
diff --git a/drivers/s390/crypto/vfio_ap_ops.c b/drivers/s390/crypto/vfio_ap_ops.c
index e8914024f5b1..a7d2a95796d3 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/crypto/vfio_ap_ops.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/crypto/vfio_ap_ops.c
@@ -1284,25 +1284,6 @@ static void vfio_ap_mdev_unset_kvm(struct ap_matrix_mdev *matrix_mdev)
 	}
 }
 
-static int vfio_ap_mdev_group_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb,
-				       unsigned long action, void *data)
-{
-	int notify_rc = NOTIFY_OK;
-	struct ap_matrix_mdev *matrix_mdev;
-
-	if (action != VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM)
-		return NOTIFY_OK;
-
-	matrix_mdev = container_of(nb, struct ap_matrix_mdev, group_notifier);
-
-	if (!data)
-		vfio_ap_mdev_unset_kvm(matrix_mdev);
-	else if (vfio_ap_mdev_set_kvm(matrix_mdev, data))
-		notify_rc = NOTIFY_DONE;
-
-	return notify_rc;
-}
-
 static struct vfio_ap_queue *vfio_ap_find_queue(int apqn)
 {
 	struct device *dev;
@@ -1402,11 +1383,10 @@ static int vfio_ap_mdev_open_device(struct vfio_device *vdev)
 	unsigned long events;
 	int ret;
 
-	matrix_mdev->group_notifier.notifier_call = vfio_ap_mdev_group_notifier;
-	events = VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM;
+	if (!vdev->kvm)
+		return -EINVAL;
 
-	ret = vfio_register_notifier(vdev, VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY, &events,
-				     &matrix_mdev->group_notifier);
+	ret = vfio_ap_mdev_set_kvm(matrix_mdev, vdev->kvm);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
@@ -1415,12 +1395,11 @@ static int vfio_ap_mdev_open_device(struct vfio_device *vdev)
 	ret = vfio_register_notifier(vdev, VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY, &events,
 				     &matrix_mdev->iommu_notifier);
 	if (ret)
-		goto out_unregister_group;
+		goto err_kvm;
 	return 0;
 
-out_unregister_group:
-	vfio_unregister_notifier(vdev, VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY,
-				 &matrix_mdev->group_notifier);
+err_kvm:
+	vfio_ap_mdev_unset_kvm(matrix_mdev);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1431,8 +1410,6 @@ static void vfio_ap_mdev_close_device(struct vfio_device *vdev)
 
 	vfio_unregister_notifier(vdev, VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY,
 				 &matrix_mdev->iommu_notifier);
-	vfio_unregister_notifier(vdev, VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY,
-				 &matrix_mdev->group_notifier);
 	vfio_ap_mdev_unset_kvm(matrix_mdev);
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/s390/crypto/vfio_ap_private.h b/drivers/s390/crypto/vfio_ap_private.h
index 648fcaf8104a..a26efd804d0d 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/crypto/vfio_ap_private.h
+++ b/drivers/s390/crypto/vfio_ap_private.h
@@ -81,8 +81,6 @@ struct ap_matrix {
  * @node:	allows the ap_matrix_mdev struct to be added to a list
  * @matrix:	the adapters, usage domains and control domains assigned to the
  *		mediated matrix device.
- * @group_notifier: notifier block used for specifying callback function for
- *		    handling the VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM event
  * @iommu_notifier: notifier block used for specifying callback function for
  *		    handling the VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY_DMA_UNMAP even
  * @kvm:	the struct holding guest's state
@@ -94,7 +92,6 @@ struct ap_matrix_mdev {
 	struct vfio_device vdev;
 	struct list_head node;
 	struct ap_matrix matrix;
-	struct notifier_block group_notifier;
 	struct notifier_block iommu_notifier;
 	struct kvm *kvm;
 	crypto_hook pqap_hook;
diff --git a/drivers/vfio/vfio.c b/drivers/vfio/vfio.c
index f5ed03897210..e22be13e6771 100644
--- a/drivers/vfio/vfio.c
+++ b/drivers/vfio/vfio.c
@@ -1088,10 +1088,21 @@ static struct file *vfio_device_open(struct vfio_device *device)
 
 	mutex_lock(&device->dev_set->lock);
 	device->open_count++;
-	if (device->open_count == 1 && device->ops->open_device) {
-		ret = device->ops->open_device(device);
-		if (ret)
-			goto err_undo_count;
+	if (device->open_count == 1) {
+		/*
+		 * Here we pass the KVM pointer with the group under the read
+		 * lock.  If the device driver will use it, it must obtain a
+		 * reference and release it during close_device.
+		 */
+		down_read(&device->group->group_rwsem);
+		device->kvm = device->group->kvm;
+
+		if (device->ops->open_device) {
+			ret = device->ops->open_device(device);
+			if (ret)
+				goto err_undo_count;
+		}
+		up_read(&device->group->group_rwsem);
 	}
 	mutex_unlock(&device->dev_set->lock);
 
@@ -1124,10 +1135,14 @@ static struct file *vfio_device_open(struct vfio_device *device)
 
 err_close_device:
 	mutex_lock(&device->dev_set->lock);
+	down_read(&device->group->group_rwsem);
 	if (device->open_count == 1 && device->ops->close_device)
 		device->ops->close_device(device);
 err_undo_count:
 	device->open_count--;
+	if (device->open_count == 0 && device->kvm)
+		device->kvm = NULL;
+	up_read(&device->group->group_rwsem);
 	mutex_unlock(&device->dev_set->lock);
 	module_put(device->dev->driver->owner);
 err_unassign_container:
@@ -1320,9 +1335,13 @@ static int vfio_device_fops_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *filep)
 
 	mutex_lock(&device->dev_set->lock);
 	vfio_assert_device_open(device);
+	down_read(&device->group->group_rwsem);
 	if (device->open_count == 1 && device->ops->close_device)
 		device->ops->close_device(device);
+	up_read(&device->group->group_rwsem);
 	device->open_count--;
+	if (device->open_count == 0)
+		device->kvm = NULL;
 	mutex_unlock(&device->dev_set->lock);
 
 	module_put(device->dev->driver->owner);
@@ -1731,8 +1750,8 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(vfio_file_enforced_coherent);
  * @file: VFIO group file
  * @kvm: KVM to link
  *
- * The kvm pointer will be forwarded to all the vfio_device's attached to the
- * VFIO file via the VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM notifier.
+ * When a VFIO device is first opened the KVM will be available in
+ * device->kvm if one was associated with the group.
  */
 void vfio_file_set_kvm(struct file *file, struct kvm *kvm)
 {
@@ -1743,8 +1762,6 @@ void vfio_file_set_kvm(struct file *file, struct kvm *kvm)
 
 	down_write(&group->group_rwsem);
 	group->kvm = kvm;
-	blocking_notifier_call_chain(&group->notifier,
-				     VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM, kvm);
 	up_write(&group->group_rwsem);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(vfio_file_set_kvm);
@@ -2011,7 +2028,8 @@ static int vfio_register_iommu_notifier(struct vfio_group *group,
 	struct vfio_iommu_driver *driver;
 	int ret;
 
-	down_read(&group->group_rwsem);
+	lockdep_assert_held_read(&group->group_rwsem);
+
 	container = group->container;
 	driver = container->iommu_driver;
 	if (likely(driver && driver->ops->register_notifier))
@@ -2019,7 +2037,6 @@ static int vfio_register_iommu_notifier(struct vfio_group *group,
 						     events, nb);
 	else
 		ret = -ENOTTY;
-	up_read(&group->group_rwsem);
 
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -2031,7 +2048,8 @@ static int vfio_unregister_iommu_notifier(struct vfio_group *group,
 	struct vfio_iommu_driver *driver;
 	int ret;
 
-	down_read(&group->group_rwsem);
+	lockdep_assert_held_read(&group->group_rwsem);
+
 	container = group->container;
 	driver = container->iommu_driver;
 	if (likely(driver && driver->ops->unregister_notifier))
@@ -2039,47 +2057,10 @@ static int vfio_unregister_iommu_notifier(struct vfio_group *group,
 						       nb);
 	else
 		ret = -ENOTTY;
-	up_read(&group->group_rwsem);
 
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int vfio_register_group_notifier(struct vfio_group *group,
-					unsigned long *events,
-					struct notifier_block *nb)
-{
-	int ret;
-	bool set_kvm = false;
-
-	if (*events & VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM)
-		set_kvm = true;
-
-	/* clear known events */
-	*events &= ~VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM;
-
-	/* refuse to continue if still events remaining */
-	if (*events)
-		return -EINVAL;
-
-	ret = blocking_notifier_chain_register(&group->notifier, nb);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
-
-	/*
-	 * The attaching of kvm and vfio_group might already happen, so
-	 * here we replay once upon registration.
-	 */
-	if (set_kvm) {
-		down_read(&group->group_rwsem);
-		if (group->kvm)
-			blocking_notifier_call_chain(&group->notifier,
-						     VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM,
-						     group->kvm);
-		up_read(&group->group_rwsem);
-	}
-	return 0;
-}
-
 int vfio_register_notifier(struct vfio_device *device,
 			   enum vfio_notify_type type, unsigned long *events,
 			   struct notifier_block *nb)
@@ -2095,9 +2076,6 @@ int vfio_register_notifier(struct vfio_device *device,
 	case VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY:
 		ret = vfio_register_iommu_notifier(group, events, nb);
 		break;
-	case VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY:
-		ret = vfio_register_group_notifier(group, events, nb);
-		break;
 	default:
 		ret = -EINVAL;
 	}
@@ -2119,9 +2097,6 @@ int vfio_unregister_notifier(struct vfio_device *device,
 	case VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY:
 		ret = vfio_unregister_iommu_notifier(group, nb);
 		break;
-	case VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY:
-		ret = blocking_notifier_chain_unregister(&group->notifier, nb);
-		break;
 	default:
 		ret = -EINVAL;
 	}
diff --git a/include/linux/vfio.h b/include/linux/vfio.h
index 45b287826ce6..aa888cc51757 100644
--- a/include/linux/vfio.h
+++ b/include/linux/vfio.h
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ struct vfio_device {
 	struct vfio_device_set *dev_set;
 	struct list_head dev_set_list;
 	unsigned int migration_flags;
+	/* Driver must reference the kvm during open_device or never touch it */
+	struct kvm *kvm;
 
 	/* Members below here are private, not for driver use */
 	refcount_t refcount;
@@ -155,15 +157,11 @@ extern int vfio_dma_rw(struct vfio_device *device, dma_addr_t user_iova,
 /* each type has independent events */
 enum vfio_notify_type {
 	VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY = 0,
-	VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY = 1,
 };
 
 /* events for VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY */
 #define VFIO_IOMMU_NOTIFY_DMA_UNMAP	BIT(0)
 
-/* events for VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY */
-#define VFIO_GROUP_NOTIFY_SET_KVM	BIT(0)
-
 extern int vfio_register_notifier(struct vfio_device *device,
 				  enum vfio_notify_type type,
 				  unsigned long *required_events,