diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_display.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_display.c
index d5198b435638..a133f7e154e7 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_display.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_display.c
@@ -551,6 +551,12 @@ static int dp_hpd_plug_handle(struct dp_display_private *dp, u32 data)
 
 	mutex_unlock(&dp->event_mutex);
 
+	/*
+	 * add fail safe mode outside event_mutex scope
+	 * to avoid potiential circular lock with drm thread
+	 */
+	dp_panel_add_fail_safe_mode(dp->dp_display.connector);
+
 	/* uevent will complete connection part */
 	return 0;
 };
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_panel.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_panel.c
index 5f23e6f09199..982f5e8c3546 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_panel.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_panel.c
@@ -151,6 +151,15 @@ static int dp_panel_update_modes(struct drm_connector *connector,
 	return rc;
 }
 
+void dp_panel_add_fail_safe_mode(struct drm_connector *connector)
+{
+	/* fail safe edid */
+	mutex_lock(&connector->dev->mode_config.mutex);
+	if (drm_add_modes_noedid(connector, 640, 480))
+		drm_set_preferred_mode(connector, 640, 480);
+	mutex_unlock(&connector->dev->mode_config.mutex);
+}
+
 int dp_panel_read_sink_caps(struct dp_panel *dp_panel,
 	struct drm_connector *connector)
 {
@@ -207,16 +216,7 @@ int dp_panel_read_sink_caps(struct dp_panel *dp_panel,
 			goto end;
 		}
 
-		/* fail safe edid */
-		mutex_lock(&connector->dev->mode_config.mutex);
-		if (drm_add_modes_noedid(connector, 640, 480))
-			drm_set_preferred_mode(connector, 640, 480);
-		mutex_unlock(&connector->dev->mode_config.mutex);
-	} else {
-		/* always add fail-safe mode as backup mode */
-		mutex_lock(&connector->dev->mode_config.mutex);
-		drm_add_modes_noedid(connector, 640, 480);
-		mutex_unlock(&connector->dev->mode_config.mutex);
+		dp_panel_add_fail_safe_mode(connector);
 	}
 
 	if (panel->aux_cfg_update_done) {
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_panel.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_panel.h
index 9023e5bb4b8b..99739ea679a7 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_panel.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/msm/dp/dp_panel.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ int dp_panel_init_panel_info(struct dp_panel *dp_panel);
 int dp_panel_deinit(struct dp_panel *dp_panel);
 int dp_panel_timing_cfg(struct dp_panel *dp_panel);
 void dp_panel_dump_regs(struct dp_panel *dp_panel);
+void dp_panel_add_fail_safe_mode(struct drm_connector *connector);
 int dp_panel_read_sink_caps(struct dp_panel *dp_panel,
 		struct drm_connector *connector);
 u32 dp_panel_get_mode_bpp(struct dp_panel *dp_panel, u32 mode_max_bpp,