diff --git a/drivers/char/amiserial.c b/drivers/char/amiserial.c
index 6e763e3f5a8..98821f97583 100644
--- a/drivers/char/amiserial.c
+++ b/drivers/char/amiserial.c
@@ -837,9 +837,6 @@ static int rs_put_char(struct tty_struct *tty, unsigned char ch)
 	struct async_struct *info;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
-	if (!tty)
-		return 0;
-
 	info = tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (serial_paranoia_check(info, tty->name, "rs_put_char"))
@@ -892,9 +889,6 @@ static int rs_write(struct tty_struct * tty, const unsigned char *buf, int count
 	struct async_struct *info;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
-	if (!tty)
-		return 0;
-
 	info = tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (serial_paranoia_check(info, tty->name, "rs_write"))
diff --git a/drivers/char/generic_serial.c b/drivers/char/generic_serial.c
index 19d3afb0e50..c6090f84a2e 100644
--- a/drivers/char/generic_serial.c
+++ b/drivers/char/generic_serial.c
@@ -54,8 +54,6 @@ int gs_put_char(struct tty_struct * tty, unsigned char ch)
 
 	func_enter (); 
 
-	if (!tty) return 0;
-
 	port = tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (!port) return 0;
@@ -97,8 +95,6 @@ int gs_write(struct tty_struct * tty,
 
 	func_enter ();
 
-	if (!tty) return 0;
-
 	port = tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (!port) return 0;
@@ -185,7 +181,6 @@ static int gs_real_chars_in_buffer(struct tty_struct *tty)
 	struct gs_port *port;
 	func_enter ();
 
-	if (!tty) return 0;
 	port = tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (!port->rd) return 0;
@@ -274,8 +269,6 @@ void gs_flush_buffer(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	func_enter ();
 
-	if (!tty) return;
-
 	port = tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (!port) return;
@@ -296,8 +289,6 @@ void gs_flush_chars(struct tty_struct * tty)
 
 	func_enter ();
 
-	if (!tty) return;
-
 	port = tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (!port) return;
@@ -321,8 +312,6 @@ void gs_stop(struct tty_struct * tty)
 
 	func_enter ();
 
-	if (!tty) return;
-
 	port = tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (!port) return;
@@ -341,8 +330,6 @@ void gs_start(struct tty_struct * tty)
 {
 	struct gs_port *port;
 
-	if (!tty) return;
-
 	port = tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (!port) return;
@@ -393,8 +380,6 @@ void gs_hangup(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	func_enter ();
 
-	if (!tty) return;
-
 	port = tty->driver_data;
 	tty = port->port.tty;
 	if (!tty) 
@@ -426,8 +411,6 @@ int gs_block_til_ready(void *port_, struct file * filp)
 
 	tty = port->port.tty;
 
-	if (!tty) return 0;
-
 	gs_dprintk (GS_DEBUG_BTR, "Entering gs_block_till_ready.\n"); 
 	/*
 	 * If the device is in the middle of being closed, then block
@@ -523,8 +506,6 @@ void gs_close(struct tty_struct * tty, struct file * filp)
 	
 	func_enter ();
 
-	if (!tty) return;
-
 	port = (struct gs_port *) tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (!port) return;
@@ -621,8 +602,6 @@ void gs_set_termios (struct tty_struct * tty,
 
 	func_enter();
 
-	if (!tty) return;
-
 	port = tty->driver_data;
 
 	if (!port) return;
diff --git a/drivers/char/istallion.c b/drivers/char/istallion.c
index 96ee1121ace..505d7a1f6b8 100644
--- a/drivers/char/istallion.c
+++ b/drivers/char/istallion.c
@@ -1375,8 +1375,6 @@ static void stli_flushchars(struct tty_struct *tty)
 	stli_txcookrealsize = 0;
 	stli_txcooktty = NULL;
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	if (cooktty == NULL)
 		return;
 	if (tty != cooktty)
@@ -1732,8 +1730,6 @@ static void stli_settermios(struct tty_struct *tty, struct ktermios *old)
 	struct ktermios *tiosp;
 	asyport_t aport;
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -1938,8 +1934,6 @@ static void stli_waituntilsent(struct tty_struct *tty, int timeout)
 	struct stliport *portp;
 	unsigned long tend;
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
diff --git a/drivers/char/mxser.c b/drivers/char/mxser.c
index 308cb601400..8beef50f95a 100644
--- a/drivers/char/mxser.c
+++ b/drivers/char/mxser.c
@@ -616,9 +616,6 @@ static int mxser_set_baud(struct tty_struct *tty, long newspd)
 	int quot = 0, baud;
 	unsigned char cval;
 
-	if (!tty->termios)
-		return -1;
-
 	if (!info->ioaddr)
 		return -1;
 
@@ -688,8 +685,6 @@ static int mxser_change_speed(struct tty_struct *tty,
 	int ret = 0;
 	unsigned char status;
 
-	if (!tty->termios)
-		return ret;
 	cflag = tty->termios->c_cflag;
 	if (!info->ioaddr)
 		return ret;
diff --git a/drivers/char/n_r3964.c b/drivers/char/n_r3964.c
index ae377aa473b..4a8215a89ad 100644
--- a/drivers/char/n_r3964.c
+++ b/drivers/char/n_r3964.c
@@ -372,14 +372,8 @@ static void remove_from_rx_queue(struct r3964_info *pInfo,
 static void put_char(struct r3964_info *pInfo, unsigned char ch)
 {
 	struct tty_struct *tty = pInfo->tty;
-
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
-
 	/* FIXME: put_char should not be called from an IRQ */
-	if (tty->ops->put_char) {
-		tty->ops->put_char(tty, ch);
-	}
+	tty_put_char(tty, ch);
 	pInfo->bcc ^= ch;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/char/stallion.c b/drivers/char/stallion.c
index 81b3234127d..8b8f07a7f50 100644
--- a/drivers/char/stallion.c
+++ b/drivers/char/stallion.c
@@ -849,8 +849,6 @@ static void stl_flushbuffer(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_flushbuffer(tty=%p)\n", tty);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -868,8 +866,6 @@ static void stl_waituntilsent(struct tty_struct *tty, int timeout)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_waituntilsent(tty=%p,timeout=%d)\n", tty, timeout);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -1036,8 +1032,6 @@ static int stl_putchar(struct tty_struct *tty, unsigned char ch)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_putchar(tty=%p,ch=%x)\n", tty, ch);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return -EINVAL;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -1073,8 +1067,6 @@ static void stl_flushchars(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_flushchars(tty=%p)\n", tty);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -1093,8 +1085,6 @@ static int stl_writeroom(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_writeroom(tty=%p)\n", tty);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return 0;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return 0;
@@ -1125,8 +1115,6 @@ static int stl_charsinbuffer(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_charsinbuffer(tty=%p)\n", tty);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return 0;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return 0;
@@ -1219,8 +1207,6 @@ static int stl_tiocmget(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file)
 {
 	struct stlport	*portp;
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return -ENODEV;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return -ENODEV;
@@ -1236,8 +1222,6 @@ static int stl_tiocmset(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file,
 	struct stlport	*portp;
 	int rts = -1, dtr = -1;
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return -ENODEV;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return -ENODEV;
@@ -1266,8 +1250,6 @@ static int stl_ioctl(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file, unsigned int cmd
 	pr_debug("stl_ioctl(tty=%p,file=%p,cmd=%x,arg=%lx)\n", tty, file, cmd,
 			arg);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return -ENODEV;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return -ENODEV;
@@ -1321,8 +1303,6 @@ static void stl_start(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_start(tty=%p)\n", tty);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -1338,8 +1318,6 @@ static void stl_settermios(struct tty_struct *tty, struct ktermios *old)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_settermios(tty=%p,old=%p)\n", tty, old);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -1373,8 +1351,6 @@ static void stl_throttle(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_throttle(tty=%p)\n", tty);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -1393,8 +1369,6 @@ static void stl_unthrottle(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_unthrottle(tty=%p)\n", tty);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -1414,8 +1388,6 @@ static void stl_stop(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_stop(tty=%p)\n", tty);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -1436,8 +1408,6 @@ static void stl_hangup(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_hangup(tty=%p)\n", tty);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;
@@ -1470,8 +1440,6 @@ static int stl_breakctl(struct tty_struct *tty, int state)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_breakctl(tty=%p,state=%d)\n", tty, state);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return -EINVAL;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -1488,8 +1456,6 @@ static void stl_sendxchar(struct tty_struct *tty, char ch)
 
 	pr_debug("stl_sendxchar(tty=%p,ch=%x)\n", tty, ch);
 
-	if (tty == NULL)
-		return;
 	portp = tty->driver_data;
 	if (portp == NULL)
 		return;