diff --git a/drivers/dma-buf/dma-fence.c b/drivers/dma-buf/dma-fence.c
index 8aa8f8cb7071..e0fd99e61a2d 100644
--- a/drivers/dma-buf/dma-fence.c
+++ b/drivers/dma-buf/dma-fence.c
@@ -934,7 +934,8 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(dma_fence_wait_any_timeout);
  *   the GPU's devfreq to reduce frequency, when in fact the opposite is what is
  *   needed.
  *
- * To this end, deadline hint(s) can be set on a &dma_fence via &dma_fence_set_deadline.
+ * To this end, deadline hint(s) can be set on a &dma_fence via &dma_fence_set_deadline
+ * (or indirectly via userspace facing ioctls like &sync_set_deadline).
  * The deadline hint provides a way for the waiting driver, or userspace, to
  * convey an appropriate sense of urgency to the signaling driver.
  *
diff --git a/drivers/dma-buf/sync_file.c b/drivers/dma-buf/sync_file.c
index 2e9a316c596a..d9b1c1b2a72b 100644
--- a/drivers/dma-buf/sync_file.c
+++ b/drivers/dma-buf/sync_file.c
@@ -347,6 +347,22 @@ out:
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static int sync_file_ioctl_set_deadline(struct sync_file *sync_file,
+					unsigned long arg)
+{
+	struct sync_set_deadline ts;
+
+	if (copy_from_user(&ts, (void __user *)arg, sizeof(ts)))
+		return -EFAULT;
+
+	if (ts.pad)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	dma_fence_set_deadline(sync_file->fence, ns_to_ktime(ts.deadline_ns));
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static long sync_file_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd,
 			    unsigned long arg)
 {
@@ -359,6 +375,9 @@ static long sync_file_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd,
 	case SYNC_IOC_FILE_INFO:
 		return sync_file_ioctl_fence_info(sync_file, arg);
 
+	case SYNC_IOC_SET_DEADLINE:
+		return sync_file_ioctl_set_deadline(sync_file, arg);
+
 	default:
 		return -ENOTTY;
 	}
diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/sync_file.h b/include/uapi/linux/sync_file.h
index ff0a931833e2..ff1f38889dcf 100644
--- a/include/uapi/linux/sync_file.h
+++ b/include/uapi/linux/sync_file.h
@@ -76,6 +76,27 @@ struct sync_file_info {
 	__u64	sync_fence_info;
 };
 
+/**
+ * struct sync_set_deadline - SYNC_IOC_SET_DEADLINE - set a deadline hint on a fence
+ * @deadline_ns: absolute time of the deadline
+ * @pad:	must be zero
+ *
+ * Allows userspace to set a deadline on a fence, see &dma_fence_set_deadline
+ *
+ * The timebase for the deadline is CLOCK_MONOTONIC (same as vblank).  For
+ * example
+ *
+ *     clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &t);
+ *     deadline_ns = (t.tv_sec * 1000000000L) + t.tv_nsec + ns_until_deadline
+ */
+struct sync_set_deadline {
+	__u64	deadline_ns;
+	/* Not strictly needed for alignment but gives some possibility
+	 * for future extension:
+	 */
+	__u64	pad;
+};
+
 #define SYNC_IOC_MAGIC		'>'
 
 /*
@@ -87,5 +108,6 @@ struct sync_file_info {
 
 #define SYNC_IOC_MERGE		_IOWR(SYNC_IOC_MAGIC, 3, struct sync_merge_data)
 #define SYNC_IOC_FILE_INFO	_IOWR(SYNC_IOC_MAGIC, 4, struct sync_file_info)
+#define SYNC_IOC_SET_DEADLINE	_IOW(SYNC_IOC_MAGIC, 5, struct sync_set_deadline)
 
 #endif /* _UAPI_LINUX_SYNC_H */