diff --git a/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-cdev.c b/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-cdev.c
index 6ee1074d4915..97e8335716b0 100644
--- a/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-cdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-cdev.c
@@ -1201,6 +1201,8 @@ static int edge_detector_update(struct line *line,
 				struct gpio_v2_line_config *lc,
 				unsigned int line_idx, u64 edflags)
 {
+	u64 eflags;
+	int ret;
 	u64 active_edflags = READ_ONCE(line->edflags);
 	unsigned int debounce_period_us =
 			gpio_v2_line_config_debounce_period(lc, line_idx);
@@ -1212,6 +1214,18 @@ static int edge_detector_update(struct line *line,
 	/* sw debounced and still will be...*/
 	if (debounce_period_us && READ_ONCE(line->sw_debounced)) {
 		line_set_debounce_period(line, debounce_period_us);
+		/*
+		 * ensure event fifo is initialised if edge detection
+		 * is now enabled.
+		 */
+		eflags = edflags & GPIO_V2_LINE_EDGE_FLAGS;
+		if (eflags && !kfifo_initialized(&line->req->events)) {
+			ret = kfifo_alloc(&line->req->events,
+					  line->req->event_buffer_size,
+					  GFP_KERNEL);
+			if (ret)
+				return ret;
+		}
 		return 0;
 	}