diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/Documentation/ring.txt b/drivers/staging/iio/Documentation/ring.txt
index 0f21479ef4e..e33807761cd 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/Documentation/ring.txt
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/Documentation/ring.txt
@@ -23,10 +23,6 @@ The function pointers within here are used to allow the core to handle
 as much buffer functionality as possible. Note almost all of these
 are optional.
 
-mark_in_use, unmark_in_use
-  Basically indicate that not changes should be made to the buffer state that
-  will effect the form of the data being captures (e.g. scan elements or length)
-
 store_to
   If possible, push data to the buffer.
 
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/buffer.h b/drivers/staging/iio/buffer.h
index ea42b5d27e3..6fb6e64181a 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/buffer.h
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/buffer.h
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ struct iio_buffer;
 
 /**
  * struct iio_buffer_access_funcs - access functions for buffers.
- * @mark_in_use:	reference counting, typically to prevent module removal
- * @unmark_in_use:	reduce reference count when no longer using buffer
  * @store_to:		actually store stuff to the buffer
  * @read_first_n:	try to get a specified number of bytes (must exist)
  * @request_update:	if a parameter change has been marked, update underlying
@@ -38,9 +36,6 @@ struct iio_buffer;
  * any of them not existing.
  **/
 struct iio_buffer_access_funcs {
-	void (*mark_in_use)(struct iio_buffer *buffer);
-	void (*unmark_in_use)(struct iio_buffer *buffer);
-
 	int (*store_to)(struct iio_buffer *buffer, u8 *data, s64 timestamp);
 	int (*read_first_n)(struct iio_buffer *buffer,
 			    size_t n,
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/iio_core.h b/drivers/staging/iio/iio_core.h
index ff27f1360d9..107cfb1cbb0 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/iio_core.h
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/iio_core.h
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@ int __iio_add_chan_devattr(const char *postfix,
 #ifdef CONFIG_IIO_BUFFER
 struct poll_table_struct;
 
-int iio_chrdev_buffer_open(struct iio_dev *indio_dev);
-void iio_chrdev_buffer_release(struct iio_dev *indio_dev);
-
 unsigned int iio_buffer_poll(struct file *filp,
 			     struct poll_table_struct *wait);
 ssize_t iio_buffer_read_first_n_outer(struct file *filp, char __user *buf,
@@ -47,14 +44,6 @@ ssize_t iio_buffer_read_first_n_outer(struct file *filp, char __user *buf,
 
 #else
 
-static inline int iio_chrdev_buffer_open(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
-{
-	return 0;
-}
-
-static inline void iio_chrdev_buffer_release(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
-{}
-
 #define iio_buffer_poll_addr NULL
 #define iio_buffer_read_first_n_outer_addr NULL
 
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/industrialio-buffer.c b/drivers/staging/iio/industrialio-buffer.c
index d2858ff8aa0..d7b1e9e435a 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/industrialio-buffer.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/industrialio-buffer.c
@@ -64,26 +64,6 @@ unsigned int iio_buffer_poll(struct file *filp,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int iio_chrdev_buffer_open(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
-{
-	struct iio_buffer *rb = indio_dev->buffer;
-	if (!rb)
-		return 0;
-	if (rb->access->mark_in_use)
-		rb->access->mark_in_use(rb);
-	return 0;
-}
-
-void iio_chrdev_buffer_release(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
-{
-	struct iio_buffer *rb = indio_dev->buffer;
-
-	if (!rb)
-		return;
-	if (rb->access->unmark_in_use)
-		rb->access->unmark_in_use(rb);
-}
-
 void iio_buffer_init(struct iio_buffer *buffer)
 {
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&buffer->demux_list);
@@ -447,16 +427,12 @@ ssize_t iio_buffer_store_enable(struct device *dev,
 				goto error_ret;
 			}
 		}
-		if (buffer->access->mark_in_use)
-			buffer->access->mark_in_use(buffer);
 		/* Definitely possible for devices to support both of these.*/
 		if (indio_dev->modes & INDIO_BUFFER_TRIGGERED) {
 			if (!indio_dev->trig) {
 				printk(KERN_INFO
 				       "Buffer not started: no trigger\n");
 				ret = -EINVAL;
-				if (buffer->access->unmark_in_use)
-					buffer->access->unmark_in_use(buffer);
 				goto error_ret;
 			}
 			indio_dev->currentmode = INDIO_BUFFER_TRIGGERED;
@@ -473,8 +449,6 @@ ssize_t iio_buffer_store_enable(struct device *dev,
 				printk(KERN_INFO
 				       "Buffer not started:"
 				       "postenable failed\n");
-				if (buffer->access->unmark_in_use)
-					buffer->access->unmark_in_use(buffer);
 				indio_dev->currentmode = previous_mode;
 				if (indio_dev->setup_ops->postdisable)
 					indio_dev->setup_ops->
@@ -488,8 +462,6 @@ ssize_t iio_buffer_store_enable(struct device *dev,
 			if (ret)
 				goto error_ret;
 		}
-		if (buffer->access->unmark_in_use)
-			buffer->access->unmark_in_use(buffer);
 		indio_dev->currentmode = INDIO_DIRECT_MODE;
 		if (indio_dev->setup_ops->postdisable) {
 			ret = indio_dev->setup_ops->postdisable(indio_dev);
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/industrialio-core.c b/drivers/staging/iio/industrialio-core.c
index 12d1576a076..19f897f3c85 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/industrialio-core.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/industrialio-core.c
@@ -1083,18 +1083,13 @@ static int iio_chrdev_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 {
 	struct iio_dev *indio_dev = container_of(inode->i_cdev,
 						struct iio_dev, chrdev);
-	unsigned int ret;
 
 	if (test_and_set_bit(IIO_BUSY_BIT_POS, &indio_dev->flags))
 		return -EBUSY;
 
 	filp->private_data = indio_dev;
 
-	ret = iio_chrdev_buffer_open(indio_dev);
-	if (ret < 0)
-		clear_bit(IIO_BUSY_BIT_POS, &indio_dev->flags);
-
-	return ret;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1104,7 +1099,6 @@ static int iio_chrdev_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 {
 	struct iio_dev *indio_dev = container_of(inode->i_cdev,
 						struct iio_dev, chrdev);
-	iio_chrdev_buffer_release(indio_dev);
 	clear_bit(IIO_BUSY_BIT_POS, &indio_dev->flags);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/kfifo_buf.c b/drivers/staging/iio/kfifo_buf.c
index bae4caf4fce..e1e9c06cde4 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/kfifo_buf.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/kfifo_buf.c
@@ -11,9 +11,7 @@
 struct iio_kfifo {
 	struct iio_buffer buffer;
 	struct kfifo kf;
-	int use_count;
 	int update_needed;
-	struct mutex use_lock;
 };
 
 #define iio_to_kfifo(r) container_of(r, struct iio_kfifo, buffer)
@@ -33,47 +31,20 @@ static int iio_request_update_kfifo(struct iio_buffer *r)
 	int ret = 0;
 	struct iio_kfifo *buf = iio_to_kfifo(r);
 
-	mutex_lock(&buf->use_lock);
 	if (!buf->update_needed)
 		goto error_ret;
-	if (buf->use_count) {
-		ret = -EAGAIN;
-		goto error_ret;
-	}
 	kfifo_free(&buf->kf);
 	ret = __iio_allocate_kfifo(buf, buf->buffer.bytes_per_datum,
 				   buf->buffer.length);
 error_ret:
-	mutex_unlock(&buf->use_lock);
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static void iio_mark_kfifo_in_use(struct iio_buffer *r)
-{
-	struct iio_kfifo *buf = iio_to_kfifo(r);
-	mutex_lock(&buf->use_lock);
-	buf->use_count++;
-	mutex_unlock(&buf->use_lock);
-}
-
-static void iio_unmark_kfifo_in_use(struct iio_buffer *r)
-{
-	struct iio_kfifo *buf = iio_to_kfifo(r);
-	mutex_lock(&buf->use_lock);
-	buf->use_count--;
-	mutex_unlock(&buf->use_lock);
-}
-
 static int iio_get_length_kfifo(struct iio_buffer *r)
 {
 	return r->length;
 }
 
-static inline void __iio_init_kfifo(struct iio_kfifo *kf)
-{
-	mutex_init(&kf->use_lock);
-}
-
 static IIO_BUFFER_ENABLE_ATTR;
 static IIO_BUFFER_LENGTH_ATTR;
 
@@ -98,7 +69,6 @@ struct iio_buffer *iio_kfifo_allocate(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
 	kf->update_needed = true;
 	iio_buffer_init(&kf->buffer);
 	kf->buffer.attrs = &iio_kfifo_attribute_group;
-	__iio_init_kfifo(kf);
 
 	return &kf->buffer;
 }
@@ -168,8 +138,6 @@ static int iio_read_first_n_kfifo(struct iio_buffer *r,
 }
 
 const struct iio_buffer_access_funcs kfifo_access_funcs = {
-	.mark_in_use = &iio_mark_kfifo_in_use,
-	.unmark_in_use = &iio_unmark_kfifo_in_use,
 	.store_to = &iio_store_to_kfifo,
 	.read_first_n = &iio_read_first_n_kfifo,
 	.request_update = &iio_request_update_kfifo,
diff --git a/drivers/staging/iio/ring_sw.c b/drivers/staging/iio/ring_sw.c
index c239fd3af4a..3e24ec45585 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/iio/ring_sw.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/iio/ring_sw.c
@@ -24,9 +24,7 @@
  * @read_p:		read pointer (oldest available)
  * @write_p:		write pointer
  * @half_p:		half buffer length behind write_p (event generation)
- * @use_count:		reference count to prevent resizing when in use
  * @update_needed:	flag to indicated change in size requested
- * @use_lock:		lock to prevent change in size when in use
  *
  * Note that the first element of all ring buffers must be a
  * struct iio_buffer.
@@ -38,9 +36,7 @@ struct iio_sw_ring_buffer {
 	unsigned char		*write_p;
 	/* used to act as a point at which to signal an event */
 	unsigned char		*half_p;
-	int			use_count;
 	int			update_needed;
-	spinlock_t		use_lock;
 };
 
 #define iio_to_sw_ring(r) container_of(r, struct iio_sw_ring_buffer, buf)
@@ -58,33 +54,11 @@ static inline int __iio_allocate_sw_ring_buffer(struct iio_sw_ring_buffer *ring,
 	return ring->data ? 0 : -ENOMEM;
 }
 
-static inline void __iio_init_sw_ring_buffer(struct iio_sw_ring_buffer *ring)
-{
-	spin_lock_init(&ring->use_lock);
-}
-
 static inline void __iio_free_sw_ring_buffer(struct iio_sw_ring_buffer *ring)
 {
 	kfree(ring->data);
 }
 
-static void iio_mark_sw_rb_in_use(struct iio_buffer *r)
-{
-	struct iio_sw_ring_buffer *ring = iio_to_sw_ring(r);
-	spin_lock(&ring->use_lock);
-	ring->use_count++;
-	spin_unlock(&ring->use_lock);
-}
-
-static void iio_unmark_sw_rb_in_use(struct iio_buffer *r)
-{
-	struct iio_sw_ring_buffer *ring = iio_to_sw_ring(r);
-	spin_lock(&ring->use_lock);
-	ring->use_count--;
-	spin_unlock(&ring->use_lock);
-}
-
-
 /* Ring buffer related functionality */
 /* Store to ring is typically called in the bh of a data ready interrupt handler
  * in the device driver */
@@ -295,18 +269,12 @@ static int iio_request_update_sw_rb(struct iio_buffer *r)
 	struct iio_sw_ring_buffer *ring = iio_to_sw_ring(r);
 
 	r->stufftoread = false;
-	spin_lock(&ring->use_lock);
 	if (!ring->update_needed)
 		goto error_ret;
-	if (ring->use_count) {
-		ret = -EAGAIN;
-		goto error_ret;
-	}
 	__iio_free_sw_ring_buffer(ring);
 	ret = __iio_allocate_sw_ring_buffer(ring, ring->buf.bytes_per_datum,
 					    ring->buf.length);
 error_ret:
-	spin_unlock(&ring->use_lock);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -372,7 +340,6 @@ struct iio_buffer *iio_sw_rb_allocate(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
 	ring->update_needed = true;
 	buf = &ring->buf;
 	iio_buffer_init(buf);
-	__iio_init_sw_ring_buffer(ring);
 	buf->attrs = &iio_ring_attribute_group;
 
 	return buf;
@@ -386,8 +353,6 @@ void iio_sw_rb_free(struct iio_buffer *r)
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(iio_sw_rb_free);
 
 const struct iio_buffer_access_funcs ring_sw_access_funcs = {
-	.mark_in_use = &iio_mark_sw_rb_in_use,
-	.unmark_in_use = &iio_unmark_sw_rb_in_use,
 	.store_to = &iio_store_to_sw_rb,
 	.read_first_n = &iio_read_first_n_sw_rb,
 	.request_update = &iio_request_update_sw_rb,