--- a/include/linux/usb.h
+++ b/include/linux/usb.h
@@ -200,7 +200,6 @@ usb_find_last_int_out_endpoint(struct us
  * @dev: driver model's view of this device
  * @usb_dev: if an interface is bound to the USB major, this will point
  *	to the sysfs representation for that device.
- * @pm_usage_cnt: PM usage counter for this interface
  * @reset_ws: Used for scheduling resets from atomic context.
  * @resetting_device: USB core reset the device, so use alt setting 0 as
  *	current; needs bandwidth alloc after reset.
@@ -257,7 +256,6 @@ struct usb_interface {
 
 	struct device dev;		/* interface specific device info */
 	struct device *usb_dev;
-	atomic_t pm_usage_cnt;		/* usage counter for autosuspend */
 	struct work_struct reset_ws;	/* for resets in atomic context */
 };
 #define	to_usb_interface(d) container_of(d, struct usb_interface, dev)
--- a/drivers/usb/core/driver.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/core/driver.c
@@ -473,11 +473,6 @@ static int usb_unbind_interface(struct d
 		pm_runtime_disable(dev);
 	pm_runtime_set_suspended(dev);
 
-	/* Undo any residual pm_autopm_get_interface_* calls */
-	for (r = atomic_read(&intf->pm_usage_cnt); r > 0; --r)
-		usb_autopm_put_interface_no_suspend(intf);
-	atomic_set(&intf->pm_usage_cnt, 0);
-
 	if (!error)
 		usb_autosuspend_device(udev);
 
@@ -1633,7 +1628,6 @@ void usb_autopm_put_interface(struct usb
 	int			status;
 
 	usb_mark_last_busy(udev);
-	atomic_dec(&intf->pm_usage_cnt);
 	status = pm_runtime_put_sync(&intf->dev);
 	dev_vdbg(&intf->dev, "%s: cnt %d -> %d\n",
 			__func__, atomic_read(&intf->dev.power.usage_count),
@@ -1662,7 +1656,6 @@ void usb_autopm_put_interface_async(stru
 	int			status;
 
 	usb_mark_last_busy(udev);
-	atomic_dec(&intf->pm_usage_cnt);
 	status = pm_runtime_put(&intf->dev);
 	dev_vdbg(&intf->dev, "%s: cnt %d -> %d\n",
 			__func__, atomic_read(&intf->dev.power.usage_count),
@@ -1684,7 +1677,6 @@ void usb_autopm_put_interface_no_suspend
 	struct usb_device	*udev = interface_to_usbdev(intf);
 
 	usb_mark_last_busy(udev);
-	atomic_dec(&intf->pm_usage_cnt);
 	pm_runtime_put_noidle(&intf->dev);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(usb_autopm_put_interface_no_suspend);
@@ -1715,8 +1707,6 @@ int usb_autopm_get_interface(struct usb_
 	status = pm_runtime_get_sync(&intf->dev);
 	if (status < 0)
 		pm_runtime_put_sync(&intf->dev);
-	else
-		atomic_inc(&intf->pm_usage_cnt);
 	dev_vdbg(&intf->dev, "%s: cnt %d -> %d\n",
 			__func__, atomic_read(&intf->dev.power.usage_count),
 			status);
@@ -1750,8 +1740,6 @@ int usb_autopm_get_interface_async(struc
 	status = pm_runtime_get(&intf->dev);
 	if (status < 0 && status != -EINPROGRESS)
 		pm_runtime_put_noidle(&intf->dev);
-	else
-		atomic_inc(&intf->pm_usage_cnt);
 	dev_vdbg(&intf->dev, "%s: cnt %d -> %d\n",
 			__func__, atomic_read(&intf->dev.power.usage_count),
 			status);
@@ -1775,7 +1763,6 @@ void usb_autopm_get_interface_no_resume(
 	struct usb_device	*udev = interface_to_usbdev(intf);
 
 	usb_mark_last_busy(udev);
-	atomic_inc(&intf->pm_usage_cnt);
 	pm_runtime_get_noresume(&intf->dev);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(usb_autopm_get_interface_no_resume);
--- a/Documentation/driver-api/usb/power-management.rst
+++ b/Documentation/driver-api/usb/power-management.rst
@@ -370,11 +370,15 @@ autosuspend the interface's device.  Whe
 then the interface is considered to be idle, and the kernel may
 autosuspend the device.
 
-Drivers need not be concerned about balancing changes to the usage
-counter; the USB core will undo any remaining "get"s when a driver
-is unbound from its interface.  As a corollary, drivers must not call
-any of the ``usb_autopm_*`` functions after their ``disconnect``
-routine has returned.
+Drivers must be careful to balance their overall changes to the usage
+counter.  Unbalanced "get"s will remain in effect when a driver is
+unbound from its interface, preventing the device from going into
+runtime suspend should the interface be bound to a driver again.  On
+the other hand, drivers are allowed to achieve this balance by calling
+the ``usb_autopm_*`` functions even after their ``disconnect`` routine
+has returned -- say from within a work-queue routine -- provided they
+retain an active reference to the interface (via ``usb_get_intf`` and
+``usb_put_intf``).
 
 Drivers using the async routines are responsible for their own
 synchronization and mutual exclusion.
--- a/drivers/usb/storage/realtek_cr.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/storage/realtek_cr.c
@@ -763,18 +763,16 @@ static void rts51x_suspend_timer_fn(stru
 		break;
 	case RTS51X_STAT_IDLE:
 	case RTS51X_STAT_SS:
-		usb_stor_dbg(us, "RTS51X_STAT_SS, intf->pm_usage_cnt:%d, power.usage:%d\n",
-			     atomic_read(&us->pusb_intf->pm_usage_cnt),
+		usb_stor_dbg(us, "RTS51X_STAT_SS, power.usage:%d\n",
 			     atomic_read(&us->pusb_intf->dev.power.usage_count));
 
-		if (atomic_read(&us->pusb_intf->pm_usage_cnt) > 0) {
+		if (atomic_read(&us->pusb_intf->dev.power.usage_count) > 0) {
 			usb_stor_dbg(us, "Ready to enter SS state\n");
 			rts51x_set_stat(chip, RTS51X_STAT_SS);
 			/* ignore mass storage interface's children */
 			pm_suspend_ignore_children(&us->pusb_intf->dev, true);
 			usb_autopm_put_interface_async(us->pusb_intf);
-			usb_stor_dbg(us, "RTS51X_STAT_SS 01, intf->pm_usage_cnt:%d, power.usage:%d\n",
-				     atomic_read(&us->pusb_intf->pm_usage_cnt),
+			usb_stor_dbg(us, "RTS51X_STAT_SS 01, power.usage:%d\n",
 				     atomic_read(&us->pusb_intf->dev.power.usage_count));
 		}
 		break;
@@ -807,11 +805,10 @@ static void rts51x_invoke_transport(stru
 	int ret;
 
 	if (working_scsi(srb)) {
-		usb_stor_dbg(us, "working scsi, intf->pm_usage_cnt:%d, power.usage:%d\n",
-			     atomic_read(&us->pusb_intf->pm_usage_cnt),
+		usb_stor_dbg(us, "working scsi, power.usage:%d\n",
 			     atomic_read(&us->pusb_intf->dev.power.usage_count));
 
-		if (atomic_read(&us->pusb_intf->pm_usage_cnt) <= 0) {
+		if (atomic_read(&us->pusb_intf->dev.power.usage_count) <= 0) {
 			ret = usb_autopm_get_interface(us->pusb_intf);
 			usb_stor_dbg(us, "working scsi, ret=%d\n", ret);
 		}