diff --git a/include/sound/seq_kernel.h b/include/sound/seq_kernel.h
index 77cf57e..f023c1b 100644
--- a/include/sound/seq_kernel.h
+++ b/include/sound/seq_kernel.h
@@ -75,7 +75,9 @@
 };
 
 /* interface for kernel client */
-int snd_seq_create_kernel_client(struct snd_card *card, int client_index);
+int snd_seq_create_kernel_client(struct snd_card *card, int client_index,
+				 const char *name_fmt, ...)
+	__attribute__ ((format (printf, 3, 4)));
 int snd_seq_delete_kernel_client(int client);
 int snd_seq_kernel_client_enqueue(int client, struct snd_seq_event *ev, int atomic, int hop);
 int snd_seq_kernel_client_dispatch(int client, struct snd_seq_event *ev, int atomic, int hop);
diff --git a/sound/core/seq/oss/seq_oss_init.c b/sound/core/seq/oss/seq_oss_init.c
index cd4139ad..ca5a2ed 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/oss/seq_oss_init.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/oss/seq_oss_init.c
@@ -65,33 +65,24 @@
 snd_seq_oss_create_client(void)
 {
 	int rc;
-	struct snd_seq_client_info *info;
 	struct snd_seq_port_info *port;
 	struct snd_seq_port_callback port_callback;
 
-	info = kmalloc(sizeof(*info), GFP_KERNEL);
 	port = kmalloc(sizeof(*port), GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (!info || !port) {
+	if (!port) {
 		rc = -ENOMEM;
 		goto __error;
 	}
 
 	/* create ALSA client */
-	rc = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(NULL, SNDRV_SEQ_CLIENT_OSS);
+	rc = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(NULL, SNDRV_SEQ_CLIENT_OSS,
+					  "OSS sequencer");
 	if (rc < 0)
 		goto __error;
 
 	system_client = rc;
 	debug_printk(("new client = %d\n", rc));
 
-	/* set client information */
-	memset(info, 0, sizeof(*info));
-	info->client = system_client;
-	info->type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
-	strcpy(info->name, "OSS sequencer");
-
-	rc = call_ctl(SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_SET_CLIENT_INFO, info);
-
 	/* look up midi devices */
 	snd_seq_oss_midi_lookup_ports(system_client);
 
@@ -124,7 +115,6 @@
 
  __error:
 	kfree(port);
-	kfree(info);
 	return rc;
 }
 
diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c
index bd8c098..606d076 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c
@@ -2212,9 +2212,11 @@
 
 
 /* exported to kernel modules */
-int snd_seq_create_kernel_client(struct snd_card *card, int client_index)
+int snd_seq_create_kernel_client(struct snd_card *card, int client_index,
+				 const char *name_fmt, ...)
 {
 	struct snd_seq_client *client;
+	va_list args;
 
 	snd_assert(! in_interrupt(), return -EBUSY);
 
@@ -2244,7 +2246,9 @@
 	client->accept_input = 1;
 	client->accept_output = 1;
 		
-	sprintf(client->name, "Client-%d", client->number);
+	va_start(args, name_fmt);
+	vsnprintf(client->name, sizeof(client->name), name_fmt, args);
+	va_end(args);
 
 	client->type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
 	up(&register_mutex);
diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_dummy.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_dummy.c
index e7344b6..2a283a5 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_dummy.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_dummy.c
@@ -193,7 +193,6 @@
 static int __init
 register_client(void)
 {
-	struct snd_seq_client_info cinfo;
 	struct snd_seq_dummy_port *rec1, *rec2;
 	int i;
 
@@ -203,17 +202,11 @@
 	}
 
 	/* create client */
-	my_client = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(NULL, SNDRV_SEQ_CLIENT_DUMMY);
+	my_client = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(NULL, SNDRV_SEQ_CLIENT_DUMMY,
+						 "Midi Through");
 	if (my_client < 0)
 		return my_client;
 
-	/* set client name */
-	memset(&cinfo, 0, sizeof(cinfo));
-	cinfo.client = my_client;
-	cinfo.type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
-	strcpy(cinfo.name, "Midi Through");
-	snd_seq_kernel_client_ctl(my_client, SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_SET_CLIENT_INFO, &cinfo);
-
 	/* create ports */
 	for (i = 0; i < ports; i++) {
 		rec1 = create_port(i, 0);
diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_midi.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_midi.c
index 512ffdd..ce0df86 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_midi.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_midi.c
@@ -270,21 +270,6 @@
 		snd_midi_event_free(msynth->parser);
 }
 
-/* set our client name */
-static int set_client_name(struct seq_midisynth_client *client, struct snd_card *card,
-			   struct snd_rawmidi_info *rmidi)
-{
-	struct snd_seq_client_info cinfo;
-	const char *name;
-
-	memset(&cinfo, 0, sizeof(cinfo));
-	cinfo.client = client->seq_client;
-	cinfo.type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
-	name = rmidi->name[0] ? (const char *)rmidi->name : "External MIDI";
-	strlcpy(cinfo.name, name, sizeof(cinfo.name));
-	return snd_seq_kernel_client_ctl(client->seq_client, SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_SET_CLIENT_INFO, &cinfo);
-}
-
 /* register new midi synth port */
 static int
 snd_seq_midisynth_register_port(struct snd_seq_device *dev)
@@ -333,16 +318,17 @@
 			kfree(info);
 			return -ENOMEM;
 		}
-		client->seq_client = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(card, 0);
+		client->seq_client =
+			snd_seq_create_kernel_client(
+				card, 0, "%s", info->name[0] ?
+				(const char *)info->name : "External MIDI");
 		if (client->seq_client < 0) {
 			kfree(client);
 			up(&register_mutex);
 			kfree(info);
 			return -ENOMEM;
 		}
-		set_client_name(client, card, info);
-	} else if (device == 0)
-		set_client_name(client, card, info); /* use the first device's name */
+	}
 
 	msynth = kcalloc(ports, sizeof(struct seq_midisynth), GFP_KERNEL);
 	port = kmalloc(sizeof(*port), GFP_KERNEL);
diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_system.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_system.c
index c87c883..b201b76 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_system.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_system.c
@@ -121,29 +121,18 @@
 int __init snd_seq_system_client_init(void)
 {
 	struct snd_seq_port_callback pcallbacks;
-	struct snd_seq_client_info *inf;
 	struct snd_seq_port_info *port;
 
-	inf = kzalloc(sizeof(*inf), GFP_KERNEL);
 	port = kzalloc(sizeof(*port), GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (! inf || ! port) {
-		kfree(inf);
-		kfree(port);
+	if (!port)
 		return -ENOMEM;
-	}
 
 	memset(&pcallbacks, 0, sizeof(pcallbacks));
 	pcallbacks.owner = THIS_MODULE;
 	pcallbacks.event_input = event_input_timer;
 
 	/* register client */
-	sysclient = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(NULL, 0);
-
-	/* set our name */
-	inf->client = 0;
-	inf->type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
-	strcpy(inf->name, "System");
-	snd_seq_kernel_client_ctl(sysclient, SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_SET_CLIENT_INFO, inf);
+	sysclient = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(NULL, 0, "System");
 
 	/* register timer */
 	strcpy(port->name, "Timer");
@@ -167,7 +156,6 @@
 	snd_seq_kernel_client_ctl(sysclient, SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_CREATE_PORT, port);
 	announce_port = port->addr.port;
 
-	kfree(inf);
 	kfree(port);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_virmidi.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_virmidi.c
index 2739f57..14fd1a6 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_virmidi.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_virmidi.c
@@ -360,34 +360,28 @@
 {
 	int client;
 	struct snd_seq_port_callback pcallbacks;
-	struct snd_seq_client_info *info;
 	struct snd_seq_port_info *pinfo;
 	int err;
 
 	if (rdev->client >= 0)
 		return 0;
 
-	info = kmalloc(sizeof(*info), GFP_KERNEL);
 	pinfo = kmalloc(sizeof(*pinfo), GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (! info || ! pinfo) {
+	if (!pinfo) {
 		err = -ENOMEM;
 		goto __error;
 	}
 
-	client = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(rdev->card, rdev->device);
+	client = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(rdev->card, rdev->device,
+					      "%s %d-%d", rdev->rmidi->name,
+					      rdev->card->number,
+					      rdev->device);
 	if (client < 0) {
 		err = client;
 		goto __error;
 	}
 	rdev->client = client;
 
-	/* set client name */
-	memset(info, 0, sizeof(*info));
-	info->client = client;
-	info->type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
-	sprintf(info->name, "%s %d-%d", rdev->rmidi->name, rdev->card->number, rdev->device);
-	snd_seq_kernel_client_ctl(client, SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_SET_CLIENT_INFO, info);
-
 	/* create a port */
 	memset(pinfo, 0, sizeof(*pinfo));
 	pinfo->addr.client = client;
@@ -418,7 +412,6 @@
 	err = 0; /* success */
 
  __error:
-	kfree(info);
 	kfree(pinfo);
 	return err;
 }
diff --git a/sound/drivers/opl3/opl3_seq.c b/sound/drivers/opl3/opl3_seq.c
index 582ff63..c4ead79 100644
--- a/sound/drivers/opl3/opl3_seq.c
+++ b/sound/drivers/opl3/opl3_seq.c
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@
 {
 	struct snd_opl3 *opl3;
 	int client;
-	struct snd_seq_client_info cinfo;
+	char name[32];
 	int opl_ver;
 
 	opl3 = *(struct snd_opl3 **)SNDRV_SEQ_DEVICE_ARGPTR(dev);
@@ -231,19 +231,14 @@
 	opl3->seq_client = -1;
 
 	/* allocate new client */
+	opl_ver = (opl3->hardware & OPL3_HW_MASK) >> 8;
+	sprintf(name, "OPL%i FM synth", opl_ver);
 	client = opl3->seq_client =
-		snd_seq_create_kernel_client(opl3->card, opl3->seq_dev_num);
+		snd_seq_create_kernel_client(opl3->card, opl3->seq_dev_num,
+					     name);
 	if (client < 0)
 		return client;
 
-	/* change name of client */
-	memset(&cinfo, 0, sizeof(cinfo));
-	cinfo.client = client;
-	cinfo.type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
-	opl_ver = (opl3->hardware & OPL3_HW_MASK) >> 8;
-	sprintf(cinfo.name, "OPL%i FM synth", opl_ver);
-	snd_seq_kernel_client_ctl(client, SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_SET_CLIENT_INFO, &cinfo);
-
 	snd_opl3_synth_create_port(opl3);
 
 	/* initialize instrument list */
@@ -264,7 +259,7 @@
 	opl3->sys_timer_status = 0;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SND_SEQUENCER_OSS
-	snd_opl3_init_seq_oss(opl3, cinfo.name);
+	snd_opl3_init_seq_oss(opl3, name);
 #endif
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/sound/drivers/opl4/opl4_seq.c b/sound/drivers/opl4/opl4_seq.c
index a69117d..e348032 100644
--- a/sound/drivers/opl4/opl4_seq.c
+++ b/sound/drivers/opl4/opl4_seq.c
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@
 {
 	struct snd_opl4 *opl4;
 	int client;
-	struct snd_seq_client_info cinfo;
 	struct snd_seq_port_callback pcallbacks;
 
 	opl4 = *(struct snd_opl4 **)SNDRV_SEQ_DEVICE_ARGPTR(dev);
@@ -143,7 +142,8 @@
 	opl4->chset->private_data = opl4;
 
 	/* allocate new client */
-	client = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(opl4->card, opl4->seq_dev_num);
+	client = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(opl4->card, opl4->seq_dev_num,
+					      "OPL4 Wavetable");
 	if (client < 0) {
 		snd_midi_channel_free_set(opl4->chset);
 		return client;
@@ -151,13 +151,6 @@
 	opl4->seq_client = client;
 	opl4->chset->client = client;
 
-	/* change name of client */
-	memset(&cinfo, 0, sizeof(cinfo));
-	cinfo.client = client;
-	cinfo.type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
-	strcpy(cinfo.name, "OPL4 Wavetable");
-	snd_seq_kernel_client_ctl(client, SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_SET_CLIENT_INFO, &cinfo);
-
 	/* create new port */
 	memset(&pcallbacks, 0, sizeof(pcallbacks));
 	pcallbacks.owner = THIS_MODULE;
diff --git a/sound/isa/gus/gus_synth.c b/sound/isa/gus/gus_synth.c
index 6464488..85a1b05 100644
--- a/sound/isa/gus/gus_synth.c
+++ b/sound/isa/gus/gus_synth.c
@@ -214,7 +214,6 @@
 {
 	struct snd_gus_card *gus;
 	int client, i;
-	struct snd_seq_client_info *cinfo;
 	struct snd_seq_port_subscribe sub;
 	struct snd_iwffff_ops *iwops;
 	struct snd_gf1_ops *gf1ops;
@@ -227,25 +226,12 @@
 	init_MUTEX(&gus->register_mutex);
 	gus->gf1.seq_client = -1;
 	
-	cinfo = kmalloc(sizeof(*cinfo), GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (! cinfo)
-		return -ENOMEM;
-
 	/* allocate new client */
 	client = gus->gf1.seq_client =
-		snd_seq_create_kernel_client(gus->card, 1);
-	if (client < 0) {
-		kfree(cinfo);
+		snd_seq_create_kernel_client(gus->card, 1, gus->interwave ?
+					     "AMD InterWave" : "GF1");
+	if (client < 0)
 		return client;
-	}
-
-	/* change name of client */
-	memset(cinfo, 0, sizeof(*cinfo));
-	cinfo->client = client;
-	cinfo->type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
-	sprintf(cinfo->name, gus->interwave ? "AMD InterWave" : "GF1");
-	snd_seq_kernel_client_ctl(client, SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_SET_CLIENT_INFO, cinfo);
-	kfree(cinfo);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < 4; i++)
 		snd_gus_synth_create_port(gus, i);
diff --git a/sound/pci/trident/trident_synth.c b/sound/pci/trident/trident_synth.c
index e31055a..cc7af8b 100644
--- a/sound/pci/trident/trident_synth.c
+++ b/sound/pci/trident/trident_synth.c
@@ -934,7 +934,6 @@
 {
 	struct snd_trident *trident;
 	int client, i;
-	struct snd_seq_client_info cinfo;
 	struct snd_seq_port_subscribe sub;
 	struct snd_simple_ops *simpleops;
 	char *str;
@@ -946,23 +945,16 @@
 	trident->synth.seq_client = -1;
 
 	/* allocate new client */
-	client = trident->synth.seq_client =
-		snd_seq_create_kernel_client(trident->card, 1);
-	if (client < 0)
-		return client;
-
-	/* change name of client */
-	memset(&cinfo, 0, sizeof(cinfo));
-	cinfo.client = client;
-	cinfo.type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
 	str = "???";
 	switch (trident->device) {
 	case TRIDENT_DEVICE_ID_DX:	str = "Trident 4DWave-DX"; break;
 	case TRIDENT_DEVICE_ID_NX:	str = "Trident 4DWave-NX"; break;
 	case TRIDENT_DEVICE_ID_SI7018:	str = "SiS 7018"; break;
 	}
-	sprintf(cinfo.name, str);
-	snd_seq_kernel_client_ctl(client, SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_SET_CLIENT_INFO, &cinfo);
+	client = trident->synth.seq_client =
+		snd_seq_create_kernel_client(trident->card, 1, str);
+	if (client < 0)
+		return client;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < 4; i++)
 		snd_trident_synth_create_port(trident, i);
diff --git a/sound/synth/emux/emux_seq.c b/sound/synth/emux/emux_seq.c
index b7129c5..1a973d7 100644
--- a/sound/synth/emux/emux_seq.c
+++ b/sound/synth/emux/emux_seq.c
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 static void snd_emux_init_port(struct snd_emux_port *p);
 static int snd_emux_use(void *private_data, struct snd_seq_port_subscribe *info);
 static int snd_emux_unuse(void *private_data, struct snd_seq_port_subscribe *info);
-static int get_client(struct snd_card *card, int index, char *name);
 
 /*
  * MIDI emulation operators
@@ -71,8 +70,8 @@
 	struct snd_seq_port_callback pinfo;
 	char tmpname[64];
 
-	sprintf(tmpname, "%s WaveTable", emu->name);
-	emu->client = get_client(card, index, tmpname);
+	emu->client = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(card, index,
+						   "%s WaveTable", emu->name);
 	if (emu->client < 0) {
 		snd_printk("can't create client\n");
 		return -ENODEV;
@@ -342,30 +341,6 @@
 
 
 /*
- * Create a sequencer client
- */
-static int
-get_client(struct snd_card *card, int index, char *name)
-{
-	struct snd_seq_client_info cinfo;
-	int client;
-
-	/* Find a free client, start from 1 as the MPU expects to use 0 */
-	client = snd_seq_create_kernel_client(card, index);
-	if (client < 0)
-		return client;
-
-	memset(&cinfo, 0, sizeof(cinfo));
-	cinfo.client = client;
-	cinfo.type = KERNEL_CLIENT;
-	strcpy(cinfo.name, name);
-	snd_seq_kernel_client_ctl(client, SNDRV_SEQ_IOCTL_SET_CLIENT_INFO, &cinfo);
-
-	return client;
-}
-
-
-/*
  * attach virtual rawmidi devices
  */
 int snd_emux_init_virmidi(struct snd_emux *emu, struct snd_card *card)