diff --git a/drivers/regulator/Kconfig b/drivers/regulator/Kconfig
index 9869064f9f03..75c04b8b3ec2 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/regulator/Kconfig
@@ -28,16 +28,6 @@ config REGULATOR_DEBUG
 	help
 	  Say yes here to enable debugging support.
 
-config REGULATOR_DUMMY
-	bool "Provide a dummy regulator if regulator lookups fail"
-	help
-	  If this option is enabled then when a regulator lookup fails
-	  and the board has not specified that it has provided full
-	  constraints the regulator core will provide an always
-	  enabled dummy regulator, allowing consumer drivers to continue.
-
-	  A warning will be generated when this substitution is done.
-
 config REGULATOR_FIXED_VOLTAGE
 	tristate "Fixed voltage regulator support"
 	help
diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index 960103a61000..6382f0af353b 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ static LIST_HEAD(regulator_map_list);
 static LIST_HEAD(regulator_ena_gpio_list);
 static LIST_HEAD(regulator_supply_alias_list);
 static bool has_full_constraints;
-static bool board_wants_dummy_regulator;
 
 static struct dentry *debugfs_root;
 
@@ -1303,12 +1302,12 @@ static struct regulator_dev *regulator_dev_lookup(struct device *dev,
 
 /* Internal regulator request function */
 static struct regulator *_regulator_get(struct device *dev, const char *id,
-					bool exclusive)
+					bool exclusive, bool allow_dummy)
 {
 	struct regulator_dev *rdev;
 	struct regulator *regulator = ERR_PTR(-EPROBE_DEFER);
 	const char *devname = NULL;
-	int ret = 0;
+	int ret = -EPROBE_DEFER;
 
 	if (id == NULL) {
 		pr_err("get() with no identifier\n");
@@ -1324,34 +1323,32 @@ static struct regulator *_regulator_get(struct device *dev, const char *id,
 	if (rdev)
 		goto found;
 
+	regulator = ERR_PTR(ret);
+
 	/*
 	 * If we have return value from dev_lookup fail, we do not expect to
 	 * succeed, so, quit with appropriate error value
 	 */
-	if (ret) {
-		regulator = ERR_PTR(ret);
+	if (ret && ret != -ENODEV) {
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	if (board_wants_dummy_regulator) {
-		rdev = dummy_regulator_rdev;
-		goto found;
-	}
-
-#ifdef CONFIG_REGULATOR_DUMMY
 	if (!devname)
 		devname = "deviceless";
 
-	/* If the board didn't flag that it was fully constrained then
-	 * substitute in a dummy regulator so consumers can continue.
+	/*
+	 * Assume that a regulator is physically present and enabled
+	 * even if it isn't hooked up and just provide a dummy.
 	 */
-	if (!has_full_constraints) {
+	if (has_full_constraints && allow_dummy) {
 		pr_warn("%s supply %s not found, using dummy regulator\n",
 			devname, id);
+
 		rdev = dummy_regulator_rdev;
 		goto found;
+	} else {
+		dev_err(dev, "dummy supplies not allowed\n");
 	}
-#endif
 
 	mutex_unlock(&regulator_list_mutex);
 	return regulator;
@@ -1409,7 +1406,7 @@ static struct regulator *_regulator_get(struct device *dev, const char *id,
  */
 struct regulator *regulator_get(struct device *dev, const char *id)
 {
-	return _regulator_get(dev, id, false);
+	return _regulator_get(dev, id, false, true);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(regulator_get);
 
@@ -1436,7 +1433,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(regulator_get);
  */
 struct regulator *regulator_get_exclusive(struct device *dev, const char *id)
 {
-	return _regulator_get(dev, id, true);
+	return _regulator_get(dev, id, true, false);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(regulator_get_exclusive);
 
@@ -1465,7 +1462,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(regulator_get_exclusive);
  */
 struct regulator *regulator_get_optional(struct device *dev, const char *id)
 {
-	return _regulator_get(dev, id, 0);
+	return _regulator_get(dev, id, false, false);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(regulator_get_optional);
 
@@ -3663,22 +3660,6 @@ void regulator_has_full_constraints(void)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(regulator_has_full_constraints);
 
-/**
- * regulator_use_dummy_regulator - Provide a dummy regulator when none is found
- *
- * Calling this function will cause the regulator API to provide a
- * dummy regulator to consumers if no physical regulator is found,
- * allowing most consumers to proceed as though a regulator were
- * configured.  This allows systems such as those with software
- * controllable regulators for the CPU core only to be brought up more
- * readily.
- */
-void regulator_use_dummy_regulator(void)
-{
-	board_wants_dummy_regulator = true;
-}
-EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(regulator_use_dummy_regulator);
-
 /**
  * rdev_get_drvdata - get rdev regulator driver data
  * @rdev: regulator
diff --git a/include/linux/regulator/machine.h b/include/linux/regulator/machine.h
index 8108751acb86..730e638c5589 100644
--- a/include/linux/regulator/machine.h
+++ b/include/linux/regulator/machine.h
@@ -195,15 +195,10 @@ int regulator_suspend_finish(void);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_REGULATOR
 void regulator_has_full_constraints(void);
-void regulator_use_dummy_regulator(void);
 #else
 static inline void regulator_has_full_constraints(void)
 {
 }
-
-static inline void regulator_use_dummy_regulator(void)
-{
-}
 #endif
 
 #endif