diff --git a/arch/um/drivers/chan_kern.c b/arch/um/drivers/chan_kern.c
index 31b69c4ea800..1bb920c0d77a 100644
--- a/arch/um/drivers/chan_kern.c
+++ b/arch/um/drivers/chan_kern.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* 
+/*
  * Copyright (C) 2000, 2001, 2002 Jeff Dike (jdike@karaya.com)
  * Licensed under the GPL
  */
@@ -240,20 +240,65 @@ void chan_enable_winch(struct list_head *chans, struct tty_struct *tty)
 	}
 }
 
-void enable_chan(struct list_head *chans, struct tty_struct *tty)
+void enable_chan(struct line *line)
 {
 	struct list_head *ele;
 	struct chan *chan;
 
-	list_for_each(ele, chans){
+	list_for_each(ele, &line->chan_list){
 		chan = list_entry(ele, struct chan, list);
-		if(!chan->opened) continue;
+		if(open_one_chan(chan))
+			continue;
 
-		line_setup_irq(chan->fd, chan->input, chan->output, tty);
+		if(chan->enabled)
+			continue;
+		line_setup_irq(chan->fd, chan->input, chan->output, line,
+			       chan);
+		chan->enabled = 1;
 	}
 }
 
-void close_chan(struct list_head *chans)
+static LIST_HEAD(irqs_to_free);
+
+void free_irqs(void)
+{
+	struct chan *chan;
+
+	while(!list_empty(&irqs_to_free)){
+		chan = list_entry(irqs_to_free.next, struct chan, free_list);
+		list_del(&chan->free_list);
+
+		if(chan->input)
+			free_irq(chan->line->driver->read_irq, chan);
+		if(chan->output)
+			free_irq(chan->line->driver->write_irq, chan);
+		chan->enabled = 0;
+	}
+}
+
+static void close_one_chan(struct chan *chan, int delay_free_irq)
+{
+	if(!chan->opened)
+		return;
+
+	if(delay_free_irq){
+		list_add(&chan->free_list, &irqs_to_free);
+	}
+	else {
+		if(chan->input)
+			free_irq(chan->line->driver->read_irq, chan);
+		if(chan->output)
+			free_irq(chan->line->driver->write_irq, chan);
+		chan->enabled = 0;
+	}
+	if(chan->ops->close != NULL)
+		(*chan->ops->close)(chan->fd, chan->data);
+
+	chan->opened = 0;
+	chan->fd = -1;
+}
+
+void close_chan(struct list_head *chans, int delay_free_irq)
 {
 	struct chan *chan;
 
@@ -263,11 +308,7 @@ void close_chan(struct list_head *chans)
 	 * so it must be the last closed.
 	 */
 	list_for_each_entry_reverse(chan, chans, list) {
-		if(!chan->opened) continue;
-		if(chan->ops->close != NULL)
-			(*chan->ops->close)(chan->fd, chan->data);
-		chan->opened = 0;
-		chan->fd = -1;
+		close_one_chan(chan, delay_free_irq);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -339,24 +380,27 @@ int chan_window_size(struct list_head *chans, unsigned short *rows_out,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void free_one_chan(struct chan *chan)
+void free_one_chan(struct chan *chan, int delay_free_irq)
 {
 	list_del(&chan->list);
+
+	close_one_chan(chan, delay_free_irq);
+
 	if(chan->ops->free != NULL)
 		(*chan->ops->free)(chan->data);
-	free_irq_by_fd(chan->fd);
+
 	if(chan->primary && chan->output) ignore_sigio_fd(chan->fd);
 	kfree(chan);
 }
 
-void free_chan(struct list_head *chans)
+void free_chan(struct list_head *chans, int delay_free_irq)
 {
 	struct list_head *ele, *next;
 	struct chan *chan;
 
 	list_for_each_safe(ele, next, chans){
 		chan = list_entry(ele, struct chan, list);
-		free_one_chan(chan);
+		free_one_chan(chan, delay_free_irq);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -466,7 +510,8 @@ struct chan_type chan_table[] = {
 #endif
 };
 
-static struct chan *parse_chan(char *str, int device, struct chan_opts *opts)
+static struct chan *parse_chan(struct line *line, char *str, int device,
+			       struct chan_opts *opts)
 {
 	struct chan_type *entry;
 	struct chan_ops *ops;
@@ -499,25 +544,30 @@ static struct chan *parse_chan(char *str, int device, struct chan_opts *opts)
 	if(chan == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 	*chan = ((struct chan) { .list	 	= LIST_HEAD_INIT(chan->list),
+				 .free_list 	=
+				 	LIST_HEAD_INIT(chan->free_list),
+				 .line		= line,
 				 .primary	= 1,
 				 .input		= 0,
 				 .output 	= 0,
 				 .opened  	= 0,
+				 .enabled  	= 0,
 				 .fd 		= -1,
 				 .ops 		= ops,
 				 .data 		= data });
 	return chan;
 }
 
-int parse_chan_pair(char *str, struct list_head *chans, int device,
+int parse_chan_pair(char *str, struct line *line, int device,
 		    struct chan_opts *opts)
 {
+	struct list_head *chans = &line->chan_list;
 	struct chan *new, *chan;
 	char *in, *out;
 
 	if(!list_empty(chans)){
 		chan = list_entry(chans->next, struct chan, list);
-		free_chan(chans);
+		free_chan(chans, 0);
 		INIT_LIST_HEAD(chans);
 	}
 
@@ -526,14 +576,14 @@ int parse_chan_pair(char *str, struct list_head *chans, int device,
 		in = str;
 		*out = '\0';
 		out++;
-		new = parse_chan(in, device, opts);
+		new = parse_chan(line, in, device, opts);
 		if(new == NULL)
 			return -1;
 
 		new->input = 1;
 		list_add(&new->list, chans);
 
-		new = parse_chan(out, device, opts);
+		new = parse_chan(line, out, device, opts);
 		if(new == NULL)
 			return -1;
 
@@ -541,7 +591,7 @@ int parse_chan_pair(char *str, struct list_head *chans, int device,
 		new->output = 1;
 	}
 	else {
-		new = parse_chan(str, device, opts);
+		new = parse_chan(line, str, device, opts);
 		if(new == NULL)
 			return -1;
 
@@ -592,27 +642,12 @@ void chan_interrupt(struct list_head *chans, struct work_struct *task,
 			if(chan->primary){
 				if(tty != NULL)
 					tty_hangup(tty);
-				line_disable(tty, irq);
-				close_chan(chans);
+				close_chan(chans, 1);
 				return;
 			}
-			else {
-				if(chan->ops->close != NULL)
-					chan->ops->close(chan->fd, chan->data);
-			}
+			else close_one_chan(chan, 1);
 		}
 	}
  out:
 	if(tty) tty_flip_buffer_push(tty);
 }
-
-/*
- * Overrides for Emacs so that we follow Linus's tabbing style.
- * Emacs will notice this stuff at the end of the file and automatically
- * adjust the settings for this buffer only.  This must remain at the end
- * of the file.
- * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- * Local variables:
- * c-file-style: "linux"
- * End:
- */
diff --git a/arch/um/drivers/line.c b/arch/um/drivers/line.c
index da81d22ec04a..851a7c8caae5 100644
--- a/arch/um/drivers/line.c
+++ b/arch/um/drivers/line.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* 
+/*
  * Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 Jeff Dike (jdike@karaya.com)
  * Licensed under the GPL
  */
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@
 
 static irqreturn_t line_interrupt(int irq, void *data, struct pt_regs *unused)
 {
-	struct tty_struct *tty = data;
-	struct line *line = tty->driver_data;
+	struct chan *chan = data;
+	struct line *line = chan->line;
+	struct tty_struct *tty = line->tty;
 
 	if (line)
 		chan_interrupt(&line->chan_list, &line->task, tty, irq);
@@ -33,10 +34,10 @@ static irqreturn_t line_interrupt(int irq, void *data, struct pt_regs *unused)
 
 static void line_timer_cb(void *arg)
 {
-	struct tty_struct *tty = arg;
-	struct line *line = tty->driver_data;
+	struct line *line = arg;
 
-	line_interrupt(line->driver->read_irq, arg, NULL);
+	chan_interrupt(&line->chan_list, &line->task, line->tty,
+		       line->driver->read_irq);
 }
 
 /* Returns the free space inside the ring buffer of this line.
@@ -342,8 +343,9 @@ int line_ioctl(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file * file,
 static irqreturn_t line_write_interrupt(int irq, void *data,
 					struct pt_regs *unused)
 {
-	struct tty_struct *tty = data;
-	struct line *line = tty->driver_data;
+	struct chan *chan = data;
+	struct line *line = chan->line;
+	struct tty_struct *tty = line->tty;
 	int err;
 
 	/* Interrupts are enabled here because we registered the interrupt with
@@ -365,7 +367,7 @@ static irqreturn_t line_write_interrupt(int irq, void *data,
 	if (test_bit(TTY_DO_WRITE_WAKEUP, &tty->flags) &&
 	   (tty->ldisc.write_wakeup != NULL))
 		(tty->ldisc.write_wakeup)(tty);
-	
+
 	/* BLOCKING mode
 	 * In blocking mode, everything sleeps on tty->write_wait.
 	 * Sleeping in the console driver would break non-blocking
@@ -377,52 +379,29 @@ static irqreturn_t line_write_interrupt(int irq, void *data,
 	return IRQ_HANDLED;
 }
 
-int line_setup_irq(int fd, int input, int output, struct tty_struct *tty)
+int line_setup_irq(int fd, int input, int output, struct line *line, void *data)
 {
-	struct line *line = tty->driver_data;
 	struct line_driver *driver = line->driver;
 	int err = 0, flags = SA_INTERRUPT | SA_SHIRQ | SA_SAMPLE_RANDOM;
 
 	if (input)
 		err = um_request_irq(driver->read_irq, fd, IRQ_READ,
 				       line_interrupt, flags,
-				       driver->read_irq_name, tty);
+				       driver->read_irq_name, data);
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 	if (output)
 		err = um_request_irq(driver->write_irq, fd, IRQ_WRITE,
 					line_write_interrupt, flags,
-					driver->write_irq_name, tty);
+					driver->write_irq_name, data);
 	line->have_irq = 1;
 	return err;
 }
 
-void line_disable(struct tty_struct *tty, int current_irq)
-{
-	struct line *line = tty->driver_data;
-
-	if(!line->have_irq)
-		return;
-
-	if(line->driver->read_irq == current_irq)
-		free_irq_later(line->driver->read_irq, tty);
-	else {
-		free_irq(line->driver->read_irq, tty);
-	}
-
-	if(line->driver->write_irq == current_irq)
-		free_irq_later(line->driver->write_irq, tty);
-	else {
-		free_irq(line->driver->write_irq, tty);
-	}
-
-	line->have_irq = 0;
-}
-
 int line_open(struct line *lines, struct tty_struct *tty)
 {
 	struct line *line;
-	int err = 0;
+	int err = -ENODEV;
 
 	line = &lines[tty->index];
 	tty->driver_data = line;
@@ -430,29 +409,29 @@ int line_open(struct line *lines, struct tty_struct *tty)
 	/* The IRQ which takes this lock is not yet enabled and won't be run
 	 * before the end, so we don't need to use spin_lock_irq.*/
 	spin_lock(&line->lock);
-	if (tty->count == 1) {
-		if (!line->valid) {
-			err = -ENODEV;
-			goto out;
+
+	tty->driver_data = line;
+	line->tty = tty;
+	if(!line->valid)
+		goto out;
+
+	if(tty->count == 1){
+		/* Here the device is opened, if necessary, and interrupt
+		 * is registered.
+		 */
+		enable_chan(line);
+		INIT_WORK(&line->task, line_timer_cb, line);
+
+		if(!line->sigio){
+			chan_enable_winch(&line->chan_list, tty);
+			line->sigio = 1;
 		}
 
-		err = open_chan(&line->chan_list);
-		if(err)
-			goto out;
-
-		/* Here the interrupt is registered.*/
-		enable_chan(&line->chan_list, tty);
-		INIT_WORK(&line->task, line_timer_cb, tty);
+		chan_window_size(&line->chan_list, &tty->winsize.ws_row,
+				 &tty->winsize.ws_col);
 	}
 
-	if(!line->sigio){
-		chan_enable_winch(&line->chan_list, tty);
-		line->sigio = 1;
-	}
-	chan_window_size(&line->chan_list, &tty->winsize.ws_row,
-			 &tty->winsize.ws_col);
-	line->count++;
-
+	err = 0;
 out:
 	spin_unlock(&line->lock);
 	return err;
@@ -472,15 +451,14 @@ void line_close(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file * filp)
 	/* We ignore the error anyway! */
 	flush_buffer(line);
 
-	line->count--;
-	if (tty->count == 1) {
-		line_disable(tty, -1);
+	if(tty->count == 1){
+		line->tty = NULL;
 		tty->driver_data = NULL;
-	}
 
-        if((line->count == 0) && line->sigio){
-                unregister_winch(tty);
-                line->sigio = 0;
+		if(line->sigio){
+			unregister_winch(tty);
+			line->sigio = 0;
+		}
         }
 
 	spin_unlock_irq(&line->lock);
@@ -491,7 +469,7 @@ void close_lines(struct line *lines, int nlines)
 	int i;
 
 	for(i = 0; i < nlines; i++)
-		close_chan(&lines[i].chan_list);
+		close_chan(&lines[i].chan_list, 0);
 }
 
 /* Common setup code for both startup command line and mconsole initialization.
@@ -526,7 +504,7 @@ int line_setup(struct line *lines, unsigned int num, char *init)
 		return 0;
 	}
 	else if (n >= 0){
-		if (lines[n].count > 0) {
+		if (lines[n].tty != NULL) {
 			printk("line_setup - device %d is open\n", n);
 			return 0;
 		}
@@ -537,7 +515,7 @@ int line_setup(struct line *lines, unsigned int num, char *init)
 			else {
 				lines[n].init_str = init;
 				lines[n].valid = 1;
-			}	
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	else {
@@ -578,7 +556,7 @@ int line_config(struct line *lines, unsigned int num, char *str,
 		return 1;
 
 	line = &lines[n];
-	return parse_chan_pair(line->init_str, &line->chan_list, n, opts);
+	return parse_chan_pair(line->init_str, line, n, opts);
 }
 
 int line_get_config(char *name, struct line *lines, unsigned int num, char *str,
@@ -604,7 +582,7 @@ int line_get_config(char *name, struct line *lines, unsigned int num, char *str,
 	spin_lock(&line->lock);
 	if(!line->valid)
 		CONFIG_CHUNK(str, size, n, "none", 1);
-	else if(line->count == 0)
+	else if(line->tty == NULL)
 		CONFIG_CHUNK(str, size, n, line->init_str, 1);
 	else n = chan_config_string(&line->chan_list, str, size, error_out);
 	spin_unlock(&line->lock);
@@ -696,7 +674,7 @@ void lines_init(struct line *lines, int nlines, struct chan_opts *opts)
 		if(line->init_str == NULL)
 			printk("lines_init - kstrdup returned NULL\n");
 
-		if(parse_chan_pair(line->init_str, &line->chan_list, i, opts)){
+		if(parse_chan_pair(line->init_str, line, i, opts)){
 			printk("parse_chan_pair failed for device %d\n", i);
 			line->valid = 0;
 		}
@@ -831,7 +809,7 @@ char *add_xterm_umid(char *base)
 	umid = get_umid(1);
 	if(umid == NULL)
 		return base;
-	
+
 	len = strlen(base) + strlen(" ()") + strlen(umid) + 1;
 	title = kmalloc(len, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if(title == NULL){
diff --git a/arch/um/include/chan_kern.h b/arch/um/include/chan_kern.h
index 22bf3a73437c..84d1f64f9795 100644
--- a/arch/um/include/chan_kern.h
+++ b/arch/um/include/chan_kern.h
@@ -14,11 +14,14 @@
 
 struct chan {
 	struct list_head list;
+	struct list_head free_list;
+	struct line *line;
 	char *dev;
 	unsigned int primary:1;
 	unsigned int input:1;
 	unsigned int output:1;
 	unsigned int opened:1;
+	unsigned int enabled:1;
 	int fd;
 	struct chan_ops *ops;
 	void *data;
@@ -26,7 +29,7 @@ struct chan {
 
 extern void chan_interrupt(struct list_head *chans, struct work_struct *task,
 			   struct tty_struct *tty, int irq);
-extern int parse_chan_pair(char *str, struct list_head *chans, int device,
+extern int parse_chan_pair(char *str, struct line *line, int device,
 			   struct chan_opts *opts);
 extern int open_chan(struct list_head *chans);
 extern int write_chan(struct list_head *chans, const char *buf, int len,
@@ -35,9 +38,9 @@ extern int console_write_chan(struct list_head *chans, const char *buf,
 			      int len);
 extern int console_open_chan(struct line *line, struct console *co,
 			     struct chan_opts *opts);
-extern void close_chan(struct list_head *chans);
 extern void chan_enable_winch(struct list_head *chans, struct tty_struct *tty);
-extern void enable_chan(struct list_head *chans, struct tty_struct *tty);
+extern void enable_chan(struct line *line);
+extern void close_chan(struct list_head *chans, int delay_free_irq);
 extern int chan_window_size(struct list_head *chans, 
 			     unsigned short *rows_out, 
 			     unsigned short *cols_out);
diff --git a/arch/um/include/irq_user.h b/arch/um/include/irq_user.h
index f724b717213f..b61deb8b362a 100644
--- a/arch/um/include/irq_user.h
+++ b/arch/um/include/irq_user.h
@@ -18,19 +18,8 @@ extern int deactivate_all_fds(void);
 extern void forward_interrupts(int pid);
 extern void init_irq_signals(int on_sigstack);
 extern void forward_ipi(int fd, int pid);
-extern void free_irq_later(int irq, void *dev_id);
 extern int activate_ipi(int fd, int pid);
 extern unsigned long irq_lock(void);
 extern void irq_unlock(unsigned long flags);
-#endif
 
-/*
- * Overrides for Emacs so that we follow Linus's tabbing style.
- * Emacs will notice this stuff at the end of the file and automatically
- * adjust the settings for this buffer only.  This must remain at the end
- * of the file.
- * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- * Local variables:
- * c-file-style: "linux"
- * End:
- */
+#endif
diff --git a/arch/um/include/line.h b/arch/um/include/line.h
index 474398ba1207..e6cc3abfd4db 100644
--- a/arch/um/include/line.h
+++ b/arch/um/include/line.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ struct line_driver {
 };
 
 struct line {
+	struct tty_struct *tty;
 	char *init_str;
 	int init_pri;
 	struct list_head chan_list;
@@ -89,10 +90,9 @@ extern int line_ioctl(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file * file,
 		      unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg);
 
 extern char *add_xterm_umid(char *base);
-extern int line_setup_irq(int fd, int input, int output,
-			  struct tty_struct *tty);
+extern int line_setup_irq(int fd, int input, int output, struct line *line,
+			  void *data);
 extern void line_close_chan(struct line *line);
-extern void line_disable(struct tty_struct *tty, int current_irq);
 extern struct tty_driver * line_register_devfs(struct lines *set,
 				struct line_driver *line_driver,
 				struct tty_operations *driver,
diff --git a/arch/um/kernel/irq_user.c b/arch/um/kernel/irq_user.c
index c3ccaf24f3e0..50a2aa35cda9 100644
--- a/arch/um/kernel/irq_user.c
+++ b/arch/um/kernel/irq_user.c
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ struct irq_fd {
 	int pid;
 	int events;
 	int current_events;
-	int freed;
 };
 
 static struct irq_fd *active_fds = NULL;
@@ -41,9 +40,11 @@ static int pollfds_size = 0;
 
 extern int io_count, intr_count;
 
+extern void free_irqs(void);
+
 void sigio_handler(int sig, union uml_pt_regs *regs)
 {
-	struct irq_fd *irq_fd, *next;
+	struct irq_fd *irq_fd;
 	int i, n;
 
 	if(smp_sigio_handler()) return;
@@ -66,29 +67,15 @@ void sigio_handler(int sig, union uml_pt_regs *regs)
 			irq_fd = irq_fd->next;
 		}
 
-		for(irq_fd = active_fds; irq_fd != NULL; irq_fd = next){
-			next = irq_fd->next;
+		for(irq_fd = active_fds; irq_fd != NULL; irq_fd = irq_fd->next){
 			if(irq_fd->current_events != 0){
 				irq_fd->current_events = 0;
 				do_IRQ(irq_fd->irq, regs);
-
-				/* This is here because the next irq may be
-				 * freed in the handler.  If a console goes
-				 * away, both the read and write irqs will be
-				 * freed.  After do_IRQ, ->next will point to
-				 * a good IRQ.
-				 * Irqs can't be freed inside their handlers,
-				 * so the next best thing is to have them
-				 * marked as needing freeing, so that they
-				 * can be freed here.
-				 */
-				next = irq_fd->next;
-				if(irq_fd->freed){
-					free_irq(irq_fd->irq, irq_fd->id);
-				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
+	free_irqs();
 }
 
 int activate_ipi(int fd, int pid)
@@ -136,8 +123,7 @@ int activate_fd(int irq, int fd, int type, void *dev_id)
 				     .irq 		= irq,
 				     .pid  		= pid,
 				     .events 		= events,
-				     .current_events 	= 0,
-				     .freed 		= 0  } );
+				     .current_events 	= 0 } );
 
 	/* Critical section - locked by a spinlock because this stuff can
 	 * be changed from interrupt handlers.  The stuff above is done 
@@ -313,26 +299,6 @@ static struct irq_fd *find_irq_by_fd(int fd, int irqnum, int *index_out)
 	return(irq);
 }
 
-void free_irq_later(int irq, void *dev_id)
-{
-	struct irq_fd *irq_fd;
-	unsigned long flags;
-
-	flags = irq_lock();
-	for(irq_fd = active_fds; irq_fd != NULL; irq_fd = irq_fd->next){
-		if((irq_fd->irq == irq) && (irq_fd->id == dev_id))
-			break;
-	}
-	if(irq_fd == NULL){
-		printk("free_irq_later found no irq, irq = %d, "
-		       "dev_id = 0x%p\n", irq, dev_id);
-		goto out;
-	}
-	irq_fd->freed = 1;
- out:
-	irq_unlock(flags);
-}
-
 void reactivate_fd(int fd, int irqnum)
 {
 	struct irq_fd *irq;