diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_drv.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_drv.c
index d911d413682e..4b9fa819358a 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_drv.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_drv.c
@@ -335,11 +335,11 @@ static int tilcdc_init(const struct drm_driver *ddrv, struct device *dev)
 	}
 #endif
 
-	ret = tilcdc_attach_external_device(ddev);
+	ret = tilcdc_encoder_create(ddev);
 	if (ret)
 		goto unregister_cpufreq_notif;
 
-	if (!priv->external_connector) {
+	if (!priv->connector) {
 		dev_err(dev, "no encoders/connectors found\n");
 		ret = -EPROBE_DEFER;
 		goto unregister_cpufreq_notif;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_drv.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_drv.h
index 717529a33100..dafb00908d1d 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_drv.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_drv.h
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ struct tilcdc_drm_private {
 
 	struct drm_crtc *crtc;
 
-	struct drm_encoder *external_encoder;
-	struct drm_connector *external_connector;
+	struct drm_encoder *encoder;
+	struct drm_connector *connector;
 
 	bool irq_enabled;
 };
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_external.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_external.c
index 81c90c2754c6..11ac9673ba98 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_external.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_external.c
@@ -37,21 +37,20 @@ int tilcdc_attach_bridge(struct drm_device *ddev, struct drm_bridge *bridge)
 	struct tilcdc_drm_private *priv = ddev->dev_private;
 	int ret;
 
-	priv->external_encoder->possible_crtcs = BIT(0);
+	priv->encoder->possible_crtcs = BIT(0);
 
-	ret = drm_bridge_attach(priv->external_encoder, bridge, NULL, 0);
+	ret = drm_bridge_attach(priv->encoder, bridge, NULL, 0);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	priv->external_connector =
-		tilcdc_encoder_find_connector(ddev, priv->external_encoder);
-	if (!priv->external_connector)
+	priv->connector = tilcdc_encoder_find_connector(ddev, priv->encoder);
+	if (!priv->connector)
 		return -ENODEV;
 
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int tilcdc_attach_external_device(struct drm_device *ddev)
+int tilcdc_encoder_create(struct drm_device *ddev)
 {
 	struct tilcdc_drm_private *priv = ddev->dev_private;
 	struct drm_bridge *bridge;
@@ -65,13 +64,11 @@ int tilcdc_attach_external_device(struct drm_device *ddev)
 	else if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	priv->external_encoder = devm_kzalloc(ddev->dev,
-					      sizeof(*priv->external_encoder),
-					      GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (!priv->external_encoder)
+	priv->encoder = devm_kzalloc(ddev->dev, sizeof(*priv->encoder), GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (!priv->encoder)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	ret = drm_simple_encoder_init(ddev, priv->external_encoder,
+	ret = drm_simple_encoder_init(ddev, priv->encoder,
 				      DRM_MODE_ENCODER_NONE);
 	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(ddev->dev, "drm_encoder_init() failed %d\n", ret);
@@ -94,6 +91,6 @@ int tilcdc_attach_external_device(struct drm_device *ddev)
 	return 0;
 
 err_encoder_cleanup:
-	drm_encoder_cleanup(priv->external_encoder);
+	drm_encoder_cleanup(priv->encoder);
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_external.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_external.h
index 285a132f3035..c8f87f59024e 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_external.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/tilcdc/tilcdc_external.h
@@ -7,5 +7,5 @@
 #ifndef __TILCDC_EXTERNAL_H__
 #define __TILCDC_EXTERNAL_H__
 
-int tilcdc_attach_external_device(struct drm_device *ddev);
+int tilcdc_encoder_create(struct drm_device *ddev);
 #endif /* __TILCDC_SLAVE_H__ */