diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_dma.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_dma.c
index 1a46787129e7..5804aa5f9df0 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_dma.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_dma.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "intel_drv.h"
 #include <drm/i915_drm.h>
 #include "i915_drv.h"
+#include "i915_vgpu.h"
 #include "i915_trace.h"
 #include <linux/pci.h>
 #include <linux/console.h>
@@ -842,6 +843,13 @@ int i915_driver_load(struct drm_device *dev, unsigned long flags)
 		}
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Notify a valid surface after modesetting,
+	 * when running inside a VM.
+	 */
+	if (intel_vgpu_active(dev))
+		I915_WRITE(vgtif_reg(display_ready), VGT_DRV_DISPLAY_READY);
+
 	i915_setup_sysfs(dev);
 
 	if (INTEL_INFO(dev)->num_pipes) {
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_vgpu.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_vgpu.h
index 3ed01a7ac48e..0db9ccf32605 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_vgpu.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_vgpu.h
@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@ struct vgt_if {
 #define vgtif_reg(x) \
 	(VGT_PVINFO_PAGE + (long)&((struct vgt_if *)NULL)->x)
 
+/* vGPU display status to be used by the host side */
+#define VGT_DRV_DISPLAY_NOT_READY 0
+#define VGT_DRV_DISPLAY_READY     1  /* ready for display switch */
+
 extern void i915_check_vgpu(struct drm_device *dev);
 extern int intel_vgt_balloon(struct drm_device *dev);
 extern void intel_vgt_deballoon(void);