diff --git a/drivers/tty/sysrq.c b/drivers/tty/sysrq.c
index 2884cd638d64..bbfd004449b5 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/sysrq.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/sysrq.c
@@ -578,7 +578,6 @@ void __handle_sysrq(int key, bool check_mask)
 
 	rcu_sysrq_start();
 	rcu_read_lock();
-	printk_prefer_direct_enter();
 	/*
 	 * Raise the apparent loglevel to maximum so that the sysrq header
 	 * is shown to provide the user with positive feedback.  We do not
@@ -620,7 +619,6 @@ void __handle_sysrq(int key, bool check_mask)
 		pr_cont("\n");
 		console_loglevel = orig_log_level;
 	}
-	printk_prefer_direct_exit();
 	rcu_read_unlock();
 	rcu_sysrq_end();
 
diff --git a/include/linux/printk.h b/include/linux/printk.h
index cd26aab0ab2a..091fba7283e1 100644
--- a/include/linux/printk.h
+++ b/include/linux/printk.h
@@ -170,9 +170,6 @@ extern void __printk_safe_exit(void);
 #define printk_deferred_enter __printk_safe_enter
 #define printk_deferred_exit __printk_safe_exit
 
-extern void printk_prefer_direct_enter(void);
-extern void printk_prefer_direct_exit(void);
-
 extern bool pr_flush(int timeout_ms, bool reset_on_progress);
 
 /*
@@ -225,14 +222,6 @@ static inline void printk_deferred_exit(void)
 {
 }
 
-static inline void printk_prefer_direct_enter(void)
-{
-}
-
-static inline void printk_prefer_direct_exit(void)
-{
-}
-
 static inline bool pr_flush(int timeout_ms, bool reset_on_progress)
 {
 	return true;
diff --git a/kernel/hung_task.c b/kernel/hung_task.c
index 02a65d554340..52501e5f7655 100644
--- a/kernel/hung_task.c
+++ b/kernel/hung_task.c
@@ -127,8 +127,6 @@ static void check_hung_task(struct task_struct *t, unsigned long timeout)
 	 * complain:
 	 */
 	if (sysctl_hung_task_warnings) {
-		printk_prefer_direct_enter();
-
 		if (sysctl_hung_task_warnings > 0)
 			sysctl_hung_task_warnings--;
 		pr_err("INFO: task %s:%d blocked for more than %ld seconds.\n",
@@ -144,8 +142,6 @@ static void check_hung_task(struct task_struct *t, unsigned long timeout)
 
 		if (sysctl_hung_task_all_cpu_backtrace)
 			hung_task_show_all_bt = true;
-
-		printk_prefer_direct_exit();
 	}
 
 	touch_nmi_watchdog();
@@ -208,17 +204,12 @@ static void check_hung_uninterruptible_tasks(unsigned long timeout)
 	}
  unlock:
 	rcu_read_unlock();
-	if (hung_task_show_lock) {
-		printk_prefer_direct_enter();
+	if (hung_task_show_lock)
 		debug_show_all_locks();
-		printk_prefer_direct_exit();
-	}
 
 	if (hung_task_show_all_bt) {
 		hung_task_show_all_bt = false;
-		printk_prefer_direct_enter();
 		trigger_all_cpu_backtrace();
-		printk_prefer_direct_exit();
 	}
 
 	if (hung_task_call_panic)
diff --git a/kernel/panic.c b/kernel/panic.c
index 6737b2332275..8355b19676f8 100644
--- a/kernel/panic.c
+++ b/kernel/panic.c
@@ -579,8 +579,6 @@ void __warn(const char *file, int line, void *caller, unsigned taint,
 {
 	disable_trace_on_warning();
 
-	printk_prefer_direct_enter();
-
 	if (file)
 		pr_warn("WARNING: CPU: %d PID: %d at %s:%d %pS\n",
 			raw_smp_processor_id(), current->pid, file, line,
@@ -610,8 +608,6 @@ void __warn(const char *file, int line, void *caller, unsigned taint,
 
 	/* Just a warning, don't kill lockdep. */
 	add_taint(taint, LOCKDEP_STILL_OK);
-
-	printk_prefer_direct_exit();
 }
 
 #ifndef __WARN_FLAGS
diff --git a/kernel/printk/printk.c b/kernel/printk/printk.c
index 5a6273e56b4e..b49c6ff6dca0 100644
--- a/kernel/printk/printk.c
+++ b/kernel/printk/printk.c
@@ -362,34 +362,6 @@ static int console_msg_format = MSG_FORMAT_DEFAULT;
 static DEFINE_MUTEX(syslog_lock);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_PRINTK
-static atomic_t printk_prefer_direct = ATOMIC_INIT(0);
-
-/**
- * printk_prefer_direct_enter - cause printk() calls to attempt direct
- *                              printing to all enabled consoles
- *
- * Since it is not possible to call into the console printing code from any
- * context, there is no guarantee that direct printing will occur.
- *
- * This globally effects all printk() callers.
- *
- * Context: Any context.
- */
-void printk_prefer_direct_enter(void)
-{
-	atomic_inc(&printk_prefer_direct);
-}
-
-/**
- * printk_prefer_direct_exit - restore printk() behavior
- *
- * Context: Any context.
- */
-void printk_prefer_direct_exit(void)
-{
-	WARN_ON(atomic_dec_if_positive(&printk_prefer_direct) < 0);
-}
-
 DECLARE_WAIT_QUEUE_HEAD(log_wait);
 /* All 3 protected by @syslog_lock. */
 /* the next printk record to read by syslog(READ) or /proc/kmsg */
diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree_stall.h b/kernel/rcu/tree_stall.h
index 4995c078cff9..a001e1e7a992 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree_stall.h
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree_stall.h
@@ -647,7 +647,6 @@ static void print_cpu_stall(unsigned long gps)
 	 * See Documentation/RCU/stallwarn.rst for info on how to debug
 	 * RCU CPU stall warnings.
 	 */
-	printk_prefer_direct_enter();
 	trace_rcu_stall_warning(rcu_state.name, TPS("SelfDetected"));
 	pr_err("INFO: %s self-detected stall on CPU\n", rcu_state.name);
 	raw_spin_lock_irqsave_rcu_node(rdp->mynode, flags);
@@ -685,7 +684,6 @@ static void print_cpu_stall(unsigned long gps)
 	 */
 	set_tsk_need_resched(current);
 	set_preempt_need_resched();
-	printk_prefer_direct_exit();
 }
 
 static void check_cpu_stall(struct rcu_data *rdp)
diff --git a/kernel/reboot.c b/kernel/reboot.c
index 4177645e74d6..6bcc5d6a6572 100644
--- a/kernel/reboot.c
+++ b/kernel/reboot.c
@@ -447,11 +447,9 @@ static int __orderly_reboot(void)
 	ret = run_cmd(reboot_cmd);
 
 	if (ret) {
-		printk_prefer_direct_enter();
 		pr_warn("Failed to start orderly reboot: forcing the issue\n");
 		emergency_sync();
 		kernel_restart(NULL);
-		printk_prefer_direct_exit();
 	}
 
 	return ret;
@@ -464,7 +462,6 @@ static int __orderly_poweroff(bool force)
 	ret = run_cmd(poweroff_cmd);
 
 	if (ret && force) {
-		printk_prefer_direct_enter();
 		pr_warn("Failed to start orderly shutdown: forcing the issue\n");
 
 		/*
@@ -474,7 +471,6 @@ static int __orderly_poweroff(bool force)
 		 */
 		emergency_sync();
 		kernel_power_off();
-		printk_prefer_direct_exit();
 	}
 
 	return ret;
@@ -532,8 +528,6 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(orderly_reboot);
  */
 static void hw_failure_emergency_poweroff_func(struct work_struct *work)
 {
-	printk_prefer_direct_enter();
-
 	/*
 	 * We have reached here after the emergency shutdown waiting period has
 	 * expired. This means orderly_poweroff has not been able to shut off
@@ -550,8 +544,6 @@ static void hw_failure_emergency_poweroff_func(struct work_struct *work)
 	 */
 	pr_emerg("Hardware protection shutdown failed. Trying emergency restart\n");
 	emergency_restart();
-
-	printk_prefer_direct_exit();
 }
 
 static DECLARE_DELAYED_WORK(hw_failure_emergency_poweroff_work,
@@ -590,13 +582,11 @@ void hw_protection_shutdown(const char *reason, int ms_until_forced)
 {
 	static atomic_t allow_proceed = ATOMIC_INIT(1);
 
-	printk_prefer_direct_enter();
-
 	pr_emerg("HARDWARE PROTECTION shutdown (%s)\n", reason);
 
 	/* Shutdown should be initiated only once. */
 	if (!atomic_dec_and_test(&allow_proceed))
-		goto out;
+		return;
 
 	/*
 	 * Queue a backup emergency shutdown in the event of
@@ -604,8 +594,6 @@ void hw_protection_shutdown(const char *reason, int ms_until_forced)
 	 */
 	hw_failure_emergency_poweroff(ms_until_forced);
 	orderly_poweroff(true);
-out:
-	printk_prefer_direct_exit();
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(hw_protection_shutdown);
 
diff --git a/kernel/watchdog.c b/kernel/watchdog.c
index 40024e03d422..9166220457bc 100644
--- a/kernel/watchdog.c
+++ b/kernel/watchdog.c
@@ -424,8 +424,6 @@ static enum hrtimer_restart watchdog_timer_fn(struct hrtimer *hrtimer)
 		/* Start period for the next softlockup warning. */
 		update_report_ts();
 
-		printk_prefer_direct_enter();
-
 		pr_emerg("BUG: soft lockup - CPU#%d stuck for %us! [%s:%d]\n",
 			smp_processor_id(), duration,
 			current->comm, task_pid_nr(current));
@@ -444,8 +442,6 @@ static enum hrtimer_restart watchdog_timer_fn(struct hrtimer *hrtimer)
 		add_taint(TAINT_SOFTLOCKUP, LOCKDEP_STILL_OK);
 		if (softlockup_panic)
 			panic("softlockup: hung tasks");
-
-		printk_prefer_direct_exit();
 	}
 
 	return HRTIMER_RESTART;
diff --git a/kernel/watchdog_hld.c b/kernel/watchdog_hld.c
index 701f35f0e2d4..247bf0b1582c 100644
--- a/kernel/watchdog_hld.c
+++ b/kernel/watchdog_hld.c
@@ -135,8 +135,6 @@ static void watchdog_overflow_callback(struct perf_event *event,
 		if (__this_cpu_read(hard_watchdog_warn) == true)
 			return;
 
-		printk_prefer_direct_enter();
-
 		pr_emerg("Watchdog detected hard LOCKUP on cpu %d\n",
 			 this_cpu);
 		print_modules();
@@ -157,8 +155,6 @@ static void watchdog_overflow_callback(struct perf_event *event,
 		if (hardlockup_panic)
 			nmi_panic(regs, "Hard LOCKUP");
 
-		printk_prefer_direct_exit();
-
 		__this_cpu_write(hard_watchdog_warn, true);
 		return;
 	}