diff --git a/app/test-pmd/testpmd.c b/app/test-pmd/testpmd.c
index bb4972c38f..bc3830520c 100644
--- a/app/test-pmd/testpmd.c
+++ b/app/test-pmd/testpmd.c
@@ -1806,9 +1806,6 @@ main(int argc, char** argv)
 	if (diag < 0)
 		rte_panic("Cannot init EAL\n");
 
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all())
-		rte_panic("Cannot init PMD\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe())
 		rte_panic("Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/app/test/test_kni.c b/app/test/test_kni.c
index e0fe44ef35..d37758bbce 100644
--- a/app/test/test_kni.c
+++ b/app/test/test_kni.c
@@ -509,11 +509,6 @@ test_kni(void)
 		printf("fail to create mempool for kni\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
-	ret = rte_pmd_init_all();
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		printf("fail to initialize PMD\n");
-		return -1;
-	}
 	ret = rte_eal_pci_probe();
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		printf("fail to probe PCI devices\n");
diff --git a/examples/exception_path/main.c b/examples/exception_path/main.c
index 0bc149dacc..d73b413344 100644
--- a/examples/exception_path/main.c
+++ b/examples/exception_path/main.c
@@ -566,11 +566,6 @@ main(int argc, char** argv)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	/* Initialise PMD driver(s) */
-	ret = rte_pmd_init_all();
-	if (ret < 0)
-		FATAL_ERROR("Could not probe PMD (%d)", ret);
-
 	/* Scan PCI bus for recognised devices */
 	ret = rte_eal_pci_probe();
 	if (ret < 0)
diff --git a/examples/ip_reassembly/main.c b/examples/ip_reassembly/main.c
index 4880a5f595..bafa8d95d7 100644
--- a/examples/ip_reassembly/main.c
+++ b/examples/ip_reassembly/main.c
@@ -1553,10 +1553,6 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "init_lcore_rx_queues failed\n");
 
 
-	/* init driver(s) */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init pmd\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/ipv4_frag/main.c b/examples/ipv4_frag/main.c
index 93664c878b..329f2ce112 100644
--- a/examples/ipv4_frag/main.c
+++ b/examples/ipv4_frag/main.c
@@ -608,10 +608,6 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (pool_indirect == NULL)
 		rte_panic("Cannot init indirect mbuf pool\n");
 
-	/* init driver */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_panic("Cannot init PMD\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_panic("Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/ipv4_multicast/main.c b/examples/ipv4_multicast/main.c
index 3bd37e4814..da4e09dba0 100644
--- a/examples/ipv4_multicast/main.c
+++ b/examples/ipv4_multicast/main.c
@@ -753,10 +753,6 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (clone_pool == NULL)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init clone mbuf pool\n");
 
-	/* init driver */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init pmd\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/kni/main.c b/examples/kni/main.c
index 274990b319..fe823b34d3 100644
--- a/examples/kni/main.c
+++ b/examples/kni/main.c
@@ -889,11 +889,6 @@ main(int argc, char** argv)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	/* Initialise PMD driver(s) */
-	ret = rte_pmd_init_all();
-	if (ret < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Could not initialise PMD (%d)\n", ret);
-
 	/* Scan PCI bus for recognised devices */
 	ret = rte_eal_pci_probe();
 	if (ret < 0)
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd-ivshmem/host/host.c b/examples/l2fwd-ivshmem/host/host.c
index 8aec7740af..75eae0e8c5 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd-ivshmem/host/host.c
+++ b/examples/l2fwd-ivshmem/host/host.c
@@ -716,10 +716,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (l2fwd_ivshmem_pktmbuf_pool == NULL)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init mbuf pool\n");
 
-	/* init driver(s) */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init pmd\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/l2fwd/main.c b/examples/l2fwd/main.c
index 2d94366613..d04e27abd6 100644
--- a/examples/l2fwd/main.c
+++ b/examples/l2fwd/main.c
@@ -615,10 +615,6 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (l2fwd_pktmbuf_pool == NULL)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init mbuf pool\n");
 
-	/* init driver(s) */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init pmd\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd-power/main.c b/examples/l3fwd-power/main.c
index 219f802cd1..598b7a249e 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd-power/main.c
+++ b/examples/l3fwd-power/main.c
@@ -1547,10 +1547,6 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "init_lcore_rx_queues failed\n");
 
 
-	/* init driver(s) */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init pmd\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd-vf/main.c b/examples/l3fwd-vf/main.c
index fb811fad33..793caccc93 100644
--- a/examples/l3fwd-vf/main.c
+++ b/examples/l3fwd-vf/main.c
@@ -1007,10 +1007,6 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (ret < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "init_lcore_rx_queues failed\n");
 
-	/* init driver */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init pmd\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/l3fwd/main.c b/examples/l3fwd/main.c
index 1ba4ca2d3c..8ee1af96fa 100755
--- a/examples/l3fwd/main.c
+++ b/examples/l3fwd/main.c
@@ -1841,10 +1841,6 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "init_lcore_rx_queues failed\n");
 
 
-	/* init driver(s) */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init pmd\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/link_status_interrupt/main.c b/examples/link_status_interrupt/main.c
index de6c87f8d0..8d17b0199d 100644
--- a/examples/link_status_interrupt/main.c
+++ b/examples/link_status_interrupt/main.c
@@ -663,10 +663,6 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (lsi_pktmbuf_pool == NULL)
 		rte_panic("Cannot init mbuf pool\n");
 
-	/* init driver(s) */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_panic("Cannot init pmd\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_panic("Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/load_balancer/init.c b/examples/load_balancer/init.c
index 6a2f21853c..e997238aa9 100644
--- a/examples/load_balancer/init.c
+++ b/examples/load_balancer/init.c
@@ -450,12 +450,6 @@ app_init_nics(void)
 	int ret;
 	uint32_t n_rx_queues, n_tx_queues;
 
-	/* Init driver */
-	printf("Initializing the PMD driver ...\n");
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0) {
-		rte_panic("Cannot init PMD\n");
-	}
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0) {
 		rte_panic("Cannot probe PCI\n");
 	}
diff --git a/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/shared/init_drivers.h b/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/shared/init_drivers.h
index afa03bd569..5d9a90f9ac 100644
--- a/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/shared/init_drivers.h
+++ b/examples/multi_process/client_server_mp/shared/init_drivers.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 static inline int
 init_drivers(void)
 {
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0 || rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
+	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		return -1;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/examples/multi_process/l2fwd_fork/main.c b/examples/multi_process/l2fwd_fork/main.c
index 3dd2b2a0d6..a34f420bbc 100644
--- a/examples/multi_process/l2fwd_fork/main.c
+++ b/examples/multi_process/l2fwd_fork/main.c
@@ -1050,10 +1050,6 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 	for (i = 0; i < RTE_MAX_LCORE; i++)
 		lcore_resource[i].lcore_id = i;
 	
-	/* init driver(s) */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init pmd\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/multi_process/symmetric_mp/main.c b/examples/multi_process/symmetric_mp/main.c
index 12fa28d6a2..028f98d43d 100644
--- a/examples/multi_process/symmetric_mp/main.c
+++ b/examples/multi_process/symmetric_mp/main.c
@@ -463,8 +463,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	/* probe to determine the NIC devices available */
 	proc_type = rte_eal_process_type();
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init pmd\n");
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot probe PCI\n");
 	if (rte_eth_dev_count() == 0)
diff --git a/examples/netmap_compat/bridge/bridge.c b/examples/netmap_compat/bridge/bridge.c
index ecf5757651..e0cef5796c 100644
--- a/examples/netmap_compat/bridge/bridge.c
+++ b/examples/netmap_compat/bridge/bridge.c
@@ -294,10 +294,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (ports.num == 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "no ports specified\n");
 
-	err = rte_pmd_init_all();
-	if (err < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "rte_pmd_init_all(): error %d\n", err);
-
 	err = rte_eal_pci_probe();
 	if (err < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "rte_eal_pci_probe(): error %d\n", err);
diff --git a/examples/qos_meter/main.c b/examples/qos_meter/main.c
index bc767034c2..e1698cc751 100755
--- a/examples/qos_meter/main.c
+++ b/examples/qos_meter/main.c
@@ -386,10 +386,6 @@ MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (pool == NULL)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Buffer pool creation error\n");
 
-	/* PMD init */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "PMD init error\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "PCI probe error\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/qos_sched/init.c b/examples/qos_sched/init.c
index 7c5c62e148..e0218157b3 100755
--- a/examples/qos_sched/init.c
+++ b/examples/qos_sched/init.c
@@ -305,10 +305,6 @@ int app_init(void)
 	char ring_name[MAX_NAME_LEN];
 	char pool_name[MAX_NAME_LEN];
 
-	/* init driver(s) */
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() < 0)
-		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot init PMD\n");
-
 	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot probe PCI\n");
 
diff --git a/examples/quota_watermark/qw/init.c b/examples/quota_watermark/qw/init.c
index f42eb8b888..44455b20e7 100644
--- a/examples/quota_watermark/qw/init.c
+++ b/examples/quota_watermark/qw/init.c
@@ -138,11 +138,6 @@ init_dpdk(void)
 {
     int ret;
 
-    /* Initialize the PMD */
-    ret = rte_pmd_init_all();
-    if (ret < 0)
-        rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Failed to initialize poll mode drivers (error %d)\n", ret);
-
     /* Bind the drivers to usable devices */
     ret = rte_eal_pci_probe();
     if (ret < 0)
diff --git a/examples/vhost/main.c b/examples/vhost/main.c
index 816a71a920..b86d57dcca 100644
--- a/examples/vhost/main.c
+++ b/examples/vhost/main.c
@@ -1657,7 +1657,7 @@ MAIN(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (ret < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid argument\n");
 
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() != 0 || rte_eal_pci_probe() != 0)
+	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() != 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Error with NIC driver initialization\n");
 
 	for (lcore_id = 0; lcore_id < RTE_MAX_LCORE; lcore_id ++)
diff --git a/examples/vhost_xen/main.c b/examples/vhost_xen/main.c
index eafc0aa290..2ec44ee8f9 100644
--- a/examples/vhost_xen/main.c
+++ b/examples/vhost_xen/main.c
@@ -1464,7 +1464,7 @@ MAIN(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (ret < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid argument\n");
 
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() != 0 || rte_eal_pci_probe() != 0)
+	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() != 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Error with NIC driver initialization\n");
 
 	for (lcore_id = 0; lcore_id < RTE_MAX_LCORE; lcore_id ++)
diff --git a/examples/vmdq/main.c b/examples/vmdq/main.c
index fac24aa5b9..0f52bdd763 100644
--- a/examples/vmdq/main.c
+++ b/examples/vmdq/main.c
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ MAIN(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (ret < 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid VMDQ argument\n");
 
-	if (rte_pmd_init_all() != 0 || rte_eal_pci_probe() != 0)
+	if (rte_eal_pci_probe() != 0)
 		rte_exit(EXIT_FAILURE, "Error with NIC driver initialization\n");
 	
 	for (lcore_id = 0; lcore_id < RTE_MAX_LCORE; lcore_id ++) 
diff --git a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h
index 24288f8f26..d5ea46b9ff 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h
+++ b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h
@@ -1315,33 +1315,6 @@ struct eth_driver {
  */
 extern void rte_eth_driver_register(struct eth_driver *eth_drv);
 
-/**
- * The initialization function of *all* supported and enabled drivers.
- * Right now, the following PMDs are supported:
- *  - igb
- *  - igbvf
- *  - em
- *  - ixgbe
- *  - ixgbevf
- *  - virtio
- *  - vmxnet3
- * This function is invoked once at EAL start time.
- * @return
- *   0 on success.
- *   Error code of the device initialization failure,
- *   -ENODEV if there are no drivers available
- *   (e.g. if all driver config options are = n).
- */
-static inline
-int rte_pmd_init_all(void)
-{
-	int ret = 0;
-
-	if (ret == -ENODEV)
-		RTE_LOG(ERR, PMD, "No PMD(s) are configured\n");
-	return (ret);
-}
-
 /**
  * Configure an Ethernet device.
  * This function must be invoked first before any other function in the