diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvbdev.c b/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvbdev.c
index 60e9c2ba26be..a840133feacb 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvbdev.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <linux/string.h>
 #include <linux/module.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/i2c.h>
 #include <linux/init.h>
 #include <linux/slab.h>
 #include <linux/device.h>
@@ -941,6 +942,53 @@ int dvb_usercopy(struct file *file,
 	return err;
 }
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_I2C
+struct i2c_client *dvb_module_probe(const char *module_name,
+				    const char *name,
+				    struct i2c_adapter *adap,
+				    unsigned char addr,
+				    void *platform_data)
+{
+	struct i2c_client *client;
+	struct i2c_board_info *board_info;
+
+	board_info = kzalloc(sizeof(*board_info), GFP_KERNEL);
+
+	if (name)
+		strlcpy(board_info->type, name, I2C_NAME_SIZE);
+	else
+		strlcpy(board_info->type, module_name, I2C_NAME_SIZE);
+
+	board_info->addr = addr;
+	board_info->platform_data = platform_data;
+	request_module(module_name);
+	client = i2c_new_device(adap, board_info);
+	if (client == NULL || client->dev.driver == NULL) {
+		kfree(board_info);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	if (!try_module_get(client->dev.driver->owner)) {
+		i2c_unregister_device(client);
+		client = NULL;
+	}
+
+	kfree(board_info);
+	return client;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(dvb_module_probe);
+
+void dvb_module_release(struct i2c_client *client)
+{
+	if (!client)
+		return;
+
+	module_put(client->dev.driver->owner);
+	i2c_unregister_device(client);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(dvb_module_release);
+#endif
+
 static int dvb_uevent(struct device *dev, struct kobj_uevent_env *env)
 {
 	struct dvb_device *dvbdev = dev_get_drvdata(dev);
diff --git a/include/media/dvbdev.h b/include/media/dvbdev.h
index 554db879527f..2d2897508590 100644
--- a/include/media/dvbdev.h
+++ b/include/media/dvbdev.h
@@ -358,7 +358,61 @@ long dvb_generic_ioctl(struct file *file,
 int dvb_usercopy(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg,
 		 int (*func)(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd, void *arg));
 
-/** generic DVB attach function. */
+#ifdef CONFIG_I2C
+
+struct i2c_adapter;
+struct i2c_client;
+/**
+ * dvb_module_probe - helper routine to probe an I2C module
+ *
+ * @module_name:
+ *	Name of the I2C module to be probed
+ * @name:
+ *	Optional name for the I2C module. Used for debug purposes.
+ * 	If %NULL, defaults to @module_name.
+ * @adap:
+ *	pointer to &struct i2c_adapter that describes the I2C adapter where
+ *	the module will be bound.
+ * @addr:
+ *	I2C address of the adapter, in 7-bit notation.
+ * @platform_data:
+ *	Platform data to be passed to the I2C module probed.
+ *
+ * This function binds an I2C device into the DVB core. Should be used by
+ * all drivers that use I2C bus to control the hardware. A module bound
+ * with dvb_module_probe() should use dvb_module_release() to unbind.
+ *
+ * Return:
+ *	On success, return an &struct i2c_client, pointing the the bound
+ *	I2C device. %NULL otherwise.
+ *
+ * .. note::
+ *
+ *    In the past, DVB modules (mainly, frontends) were bound via dvb_attach()
+ *    macro, with does an ugly hack, using I2C low level functions. Such
+ *    usage is deprecated and will be removed soon. Instead, use this routine.
+ */
+struct i2c_client *dvb_module_probe(const char *module_name,
+				    const char *name,
+				    struct i2c_adapter *adap,
+				    unsigned char addr,
+				    void *platform_data);
+
+/**
+ * dvb_module_release - releases an I2C device allocated with
+ *	 dvb_module_probe().
+ *
+ * @client: pointer to &struct i2c_client with the I2C client to be released.
+ *	    can be %NULL.
+ *
+ * This function should be used to free all resources reserved by
+ * dvb_module_probe() and unbinding the I2C hardware.
+ */
+void dvb_module_release(struct i2c_client *client);
+
+#endif /* CONFIG_I2C */
+
+/* Legacy generic DVB attach function. */
 #ifdef CONFIG_MEDIA_ATTACH
 
 /**
@@ -371,6 +425,13 @@ int dvb_usercopy(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg,
  * the @FUNCTION function there, with @ARGS.
  * As it increments symbol usage cont, at unregister, dvb_detach()
  * should be called.
+ *
+ * .. note::
+ *
+ *    In the past, DVB modules (mainly, frontends) were bound via dvb_attach()
+ *    macro, with does an ugly hack, using I2C low level functions. Such
+ *    usage is deprecated and will be removed soon. Instead, you should use
+ *    dvb_module_probe().
  */
 #define dvb_attach(FUNCTION, ARGS...) ({ \
 	void *__r = NULL; \
@@ -402,6 +463,6 @@ int dvb_usercopy(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg,
 
 #define dvb_detach(FUNC)	{}
 
-#endif
+#endif	/* CONFIG_MEDIA_ATTACH */
 
 #endif /* #ifndef _DVBDEV_H_ */