diff --git a/include/linux/trace.h b/include/linux/trace.h
index 7fd86d3c691f..36d255d66f88 100644
--- a/include/linux/trace.h
+++ b/include/linux/trace.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ struct trace_array;
 void trace_printk_init_buffers(void);
 int trace_array_printk(struct trace_array *tr, unsigned long ip,
 		const char *fmt, ...);
+int trace_array_init_printk(struct trace_array *tr);
 void trace_array_put(struct trace_array *tr);
 struct trace_array *trace_array_get_by_name(const char *name);
 int trace_array_destroy(struct trace_array *tr);
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace.c b/kernel/trace/trace.c
index 06c0feae5ff9..c5f822736261 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace.c
@@ -3129,6 +3129,9 @@ static int alloc_percpu_trace_buffer(void)
 {
 	struct trace_buffer_struct *buffers;
 
+	if (trace_percpu_buffer)
+		return 0;
+
 	buffers = alloc_percpu(struct trace_buffer_struct);
 	if (MEM_FAIL(!buffers, "Could not allocate percpu trace_printk buffer"))
 		return -ENOMEM;
@@ -3331,6 +3334,26 @@ int trace_array_vprintk(struct trace_array *tr,
 	return __trace_array_vprintk(tr->array_buffer.buffer, ip, fmt, args);
 }
 
+/**
+ * trace_array_printk - Print a message to a specific instance
+ * @tr: The instance trace_array descriptor
+ * @ip: The instruction pointer that this is called from.
+ * @fmt: The format to print (printf format)
+ *
+ * If a subsystem sets up its own instance, they have the right to
+ * printk strings into their tracing instance buffer using this
+ * function. Note, this function will not write into the top level
+ * buffer (use trace_printk() for that), as writing into the top level
+ * buffer should only have events that can be individually disabled.
+ * trace_printk() is only used for debugging a kernel, and should not
+ * be ever encorporated in normal use.
+ *
+ * trace_array_printk() can be used, as it will not add noise to the
+ * top level tracing buffer.
+ *
+ * Note, trace_array_init_printk() must be called on @tr before this
+ * can be used.
+ */
 __printf(3, 0)
 int trace_array_printk(struct trace_array *tr,
 		       unsigned long ip, const char *fmt, ...)
@@ -3355,6 +3378,27 @@ int trace_array_printk(struct trace_array *tr,
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(trace_array_printk);
 
+/**
+ * trace_array_init_printk - Initialize buffers for trace_array_printk()
+ * @tr: The trace array to initialize the buffers for
+ *
+ * As trace_array_printk() only writes into instances, they are OK to
+ * have in the kernel (unlike trace_printk()). This needs to be called
+ * before trace_array_printk() can be used on a trace_array.
+ */
+int trace_array_init_printk(struct trace_array *tr)
+{
+	if (!tr)
+		return -ENOENT;
+
+	/* This is only allowed for created instances */
+	if (tr == &global_trace)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	return alloc_percpu_trace_buffer();
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(trace_array_init_printk);
+
 __printf(3, 4)
 int trace_array_printk_buf(struct trace_buffer *buffer,
 			   unsigned long ip, const char *fmt, ...)