diff --git a/crypto/asymmetric_keys/asymmetric_type.c b/crypto/asymmetric_keys/asymmetric_type.c
index 9d78ad7754d9aa..7c04989689757d 100644
--- a/crypto/asymmetric_keys/asymmetric_type.c
+++ b/crypto/asymmetric_keys/asymmetric_type.c
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(asymmetric_keyid_match);
  *	"id:<id>"	- request a key matching the ID
  *	"<subtype>:<id>" - request a key of a subtype
  */
-static int asymmetric_key_match(const struct key *key,
-				const struct key_match_data *match_data)
+static int asymmetric_key_cmp(const struct key *key,
+			      const struct key_match_data *match_data)
 {
 	const struct asymmetric_key_subtype *subtype = asymmetric_key_subtype(key);
 	const char *description = match_data->raw_data;
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ static int asymmetric_key_match(const struct key *key,
 static int asymmetric_key_match_preparse(struct key_match_data *match_data)
 {
 	match_data->lookup_type = KEYRING_SEARCH_LOOKUP_ITERATE;
+	match_data->cmp = asymmetric_key_cmp;
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -224,7 +225,6 @@ struct key_type key_type_asymmetric = {
 	.free_preparse	= asymmetric_key_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate	= generic_key_instantiate,
 	.match_preparse	= asymmetric_key_match_preparse,
-	.match		= asymmetric_key_match,
 	.match_free	= asymmetric_key_match_free,
 	.destroy	= asymmetric_key_destroy,
 	.describe	= asymmetric_key_describe,
diff --git a/crypto/asymmetric_keys/pkcs7_key_type.c b/crypto/asymmetric_keys/pkcs7_key_type.c
index d1faa1df1decdd..751f8fd7335db2 100644
--- a/crypto/asymmetric_keys/pkcs7_key_type.c
+++ b/crypto/asymmetric_keys/pkcs7_key_type.c
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ static struct key_type key_type_pkcs7 = {
 	.preparse		= pkcs7_preparse,
 	.free_preparse		= user_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate		= generic_key_instantiate,
-	.match			= user_match,
 	.revoke			= user_revoke,
 	.destroy		= user_destroy,
 	.describe		= user_describe,
diff --git a/fs/cifs/cifs_spnego.c b/fs/cifs/cifs_spnego.c
index a3e932547617ea..f4cf200b3c7671 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/cifs_spnego.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/cifs_spnego.c
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ cifs_spnego_key_destroy(struct key *key)
 struct key_type cifs_spnego_key_type = {
 	.name		= "cifs.spnego",
 	.instantiate	= cifs_spnego_key_instantiate,
-	.match		= user_match,
 	.destroy	= cifs_spnego_key_destroy,
 	.describe	= user_describe,
 };
diff --git a/fs/cifs/cifsacl.c b/fs/cifs/cifsacl.c
index 7ff866dbb89eb7..6d00c419cbae0b 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/cifsacl.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/cifsacl.c
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ static struct key_type cifs_idmap_key_type = {
 	.instantiate = cifs_idmap_key_instantiate,
 	.destroy     = cifs_idmap_key_destroy,
 	.describe    = user_describe,
-	.match       = user_match,
 };
 
 static char *
diff --git a/fs/nfs/idmap.c b/fs/nfs/idmap.c
index 7dd55b745c4d96..2f5db844c17253 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/idmap.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/idmap.c
@@ -177,7 +177,6 @@ static struct key_type key_type_id_resolver = {
 	.preparse	= user_preparse,
 	.free_preparse	= user_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate	= generic_key_instantiate,
-	.match		= user_match,
 	.revoke		= user_revoke,
 	.destroy	= user_destroy,
 	.describe	= user_describe,
@@ -401,7 +400,6 @@ static struct key_type key_type_id_resolver_legacy = {
 	.preparse	= user_preparse,
 	.free_preparse	= user_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate	= generic_key_instantiate,
-	.match		= user_match,
 	.revoke		= user_revoke,
 	.destroy	= user_destroy,
 	.describe	= user_describe,
diff --git a/include/keys/user-type.h b/include/keys/user-type.h
index 66d92af30e7c0e..cebefb069c44a5 100644
--- a/include/keys/user-type.h
+++ b/include/keys/user-type.h
@@ -36,13 +36,10 @@ extern struct key_type key_type_user;
 extern struct key_type key_type_logon;
 
 struct key_preparsed_payload;
-struct key_match_data;
 
 extern int user_preparse(struct key_preparsed_payload *prep);
 extern void user_free_preparse(struct key_preparsed_payload *prep);
 extern int user_update(struct key *key, struct key_preparsed_payload *prep);
-extern int user_match(const struct key *key,
-		      const struct key_match_data *match_data);
 extern void user_revoke(struct key *key);
 extern void user_destroy(struct key *key);
 extern void user_describe(const struct key *user, struct seq_file *m);
diff --git a/include/linux/key-type.h b/include/linux/key-type.h
index bf93ea60927387..c14816bd3b44f1 100644
--- a/include/linux/key-type.h
+++ b/include/linux/key-type.h
@@ -113,10 +113,6 @@ struct key_type {
 	 */
 	int (*match_preparse)(struct key_match_data *match_data);
 
-	/* match a key against a description */
-	int (*match)(const struct key *key,
-		     const struct key_match_data *match_data);
-
 	/* Free preparsed match data (optional).  This should be supplied it
 	 * ->match_preparse() is supplied. */
 	void (*match_free)(struct key_match_data *match_data);
diff --git a/net/ceph/crypto.c b/net/ceph/crypto.c
index ffeba8f9dda929..62fc5e7a9acf75 100644
--- a/net/ceph/crypto.c
+++ b/net/ceph/crypto.c
@@ -476,7 +476,6 @@ struct key_type key_type_ceph = {
 	.preparse	= ceph_key_preparse,
 	.free_preparse	= ceph_key_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate	= generic_key_instantiate,
-	.match		= user_match,
 	.destroy	= ceph_key_destroy,
 };
 
diff --git a/net/dns_resolver/dns_key.c b/net/dns_resolver/dns_key.c
index 92df6e508ae7d0..a07b9ba7e0b7bf 100644
--- a/net/dns_resolver/dns_key.c
+++ b/net/dns_resolver/dns_key.c
@@ -176,9 +176,8 @@ static void dns_resolver_free_preparse(struct key_preparsed_payload *prep)
  * The domain name may be a simple name or an absolute domain name (which
  * should end with a period).  The domain name is case-independent.
  */
-static int
-dns_resolver_match(const struct key *key,
-		   const struct key_match_data *match_data)
+static int dns_resolver_cmp(const struct key *key,
+			    const struct key_match_data *match_data)
 {
 	int slen, dlen, ret = 0;
 	const char *src = key->description, *dsp = match_data->raw_data;
@@ -209,6 +208,16 @@ dns_resolver_match(const struct key *key,
 	return ret;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Preparse the match criterion.
+ */
+static int dns_resolver_match_preparse(struct key_match_data *match_data)
+{
+	match_data->lookup_type = KEYRING_SEARCH_LOOKUP_ITERATE;
+	match_data->cmp = dns_resolver_cmp;
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Describe a DNS key
  */
@@ -243,7 +252,7 @@ struct key_type key_type_dns_resolver = {
 	.preparse	= dns_resolver_preparse,
 	.free_preparse	= dns_resolver_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate	= generic_key_instantiate,
-	.match		= dns_resolver_match,
+	.match_preparse	= dns_resolver_match_preparse,
 	.revoke		= user_revoke,
 	.destroy	= user_destroy,
 	.describe	= dns_resolver_describe,
diff --git a/net/rxrpc/ar-key.c b/net/rxrpc/ar-key.c
index 3907add75932d9..10c6cb694b4343 100644
--- a/net/rxrpc/ar-key.c
+++ b/net/rxrpc/ar-key.c
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ struct key_type key_type_rxrpc = {
 	.preparse	= rxrpc_preparse,
 	.free_preparse	= rxrpc_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate	= generic_key_instantiate,
-	.match		= user_match,
 	.destroy	= rxrpc_destroy,
 	.describe	= rxrpc_describe,
 	.read		= rxrpc_read,
@@ -61,7 +60,6 @@ struct key_type key_type_rxrpc_s = {
 	.preparse	= rxrpc_preparse_s,
 	.free_preparse	= rxrpc_free_preparse_s,
 	.instantiate	= generic_key_instantiate,
-	.match		= user_match,
 	.destroy	= rxrpc_destroy_s,
 	.describe	= rxrpc_describe,
 };
diff --git a/security/keys/big_key.c b/security/keys/big_key.c
index 4045c13a761a9f..b6adb94f6d5257 100644
--- a/security/keys/big_key.c
+++ b/security/keys/big_key.c
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ struct key_type key_type_big_key = {
 	.preparse		= big_key_preparse,
 	.free_preparse		= big_key_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate		= generic_key_instantiate,
-	.match			= user_match,
 	.revoke			= big_key_revoke,
 	.destroy		= big_key_destroy,
 	.describe		= big_key_describe,
diff --git a/security/keys/encrypted-keys/encrypted.c b/security/keys/encrypted-keys/encrypted.c
index 5fe443d120afe8..db9675db102620 100644
--- a/security/keys/encrypted-keys/encrypted.c
+++ b/security/keys/encrypted-keys/encrypted.c
@@ -970,7 +970,6 @@ struct key_type key_type_encrypted = {
 	.name = "encrypted",
 	.instantiate = encrypted_instantiate,
 	.update = encrypted_update,
-	.match = user_match,
 	.destroy = encrypted_destroy,
 	.describe = user_describe,
 	.read = encrypted_read,
diff --git a/security/keys/internal.h b/security/keys/internal.h
index b47cc532be1e3b..e66a16cb63e1ca 100644
--- a/security/keys/internal.h
+++ b/security/keys/internal.h
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ struct keyring_search_context {
 	struct timespec		now;
 };
 
+extern int key_default_cmp(const struct key *key,
+			   const struct key_match_data *match_data);
 extern key_ref_t keyring_search_aux(key_ref_t keyring_ref,
 				    struct keyring_search_context *ctx);
 
diff --git a/security/keys/key.c b/security/keys/key.c
index b90a68c4e2c427..8c0092ca04430b 100644
--- a/security/keys/key.c
+++ b/security/keys/key.c
@@ -799,7 +799,7 @@ key_ref_t key_create_or_update(key_ref_t keyring_ref,
 	}
 
 	key_ref = ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
-	if (!index_key.type->match || !index_key.type->instantiate ||
+	if (!index_key.type->instantiate ||
 	    (!index_key.description && !index_key.type->preparse))
 		goto error_put_type;
 
diff --git a/security/keys/keyring.c b/security/keys/keyring.c
index 10f0a5f2d3620c..253c9a0eb092e2 100644
--- a/security/keys/keyring.c
+++ b/security/keys/keyring.c
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ struct key_type key_type_keyring = {
 	.preparse	= keyring_preparse,
 	.free_preparse	= keyring_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate	= keyring_instantiate,
-	.match		= user_match,
 	.revoke		= keyring_revoke,
 	.destroy	= keyring_destroy,
 	.describe	= keyring_describe,
@@ -511,6 +510,15 @@ struct key *keyring_alloc(const char *description, kuid_t uid, kgid_t gid,
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(keyring_alloc);
 
+/*
+ * By default, we keys found by getting an exact match on their descriptions.
+ */
+int key_default_cmp(const struct key *key,
+		    const struct key_match_data *match_data)
+{
+	return strcmp(key->description, match_data->raw_data) == 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Iteration function to consider each key found.
  */
@@ -884,7 +892,7 @@ key_ref_t keyring_search(key_ref_t keyring,
 		.index_key.type		= type,
 		.index_key.description	= description,
 		.cred			= current_cred(),
-		.match_data.cmp		= type->match,
+		.match_data.cmp		= key_default_cmp,
 		.match_data.raw_data	= description,
 		.match_data.lookup_type	= KEYRING_SEARCH_LOOKUP_DIRECT,
 		.flags			= KEYRING_SEARCH_DO_STATE_CHECK,
@@ -892,9 +900,6 @@ key_ref_t keyring_search(key_ref_t keyring,
 	key_ref_t key;
 	int ret;
 
-	if (!ctx.match_data.cmp)
-		return ERR_PTR(-ENOKEY);
-
 	if (type->match_preparse) {
 		ret = type->match_preparse(&ctx.match_data);
 		if (ret < 0)
diff --git a/security/keys/request_key.c b/security/keys/request_key.c
index 408523e5e2e2ee..dc6ed32b7844cf 100644
--- a/security/keys/request_key.c
+++ b/security/keys/request_key.c
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ struct key *request_key_and_link(struct key_type *type,
 		.index_key.type		= type,
 		.index_key.description	= description,
 		.cred			= current_cred(),
-		.match_data.cmp		= type->match,
+		.match_data.cmp		= key_default_cmp,
 		.match_data.raw_data	= description,
 		.match_data.lookup_type	= KEYRING_SEARCH_LOOKUP_DIRECT,
 	};
diff --git a/security/keys/request_key_auth.c b/security/keys/request_key_auth.c
index 9ae02819cc064f..6639e2cb885322 100644
--- a/security/keys/request_key_auth.c
+++ b/security/keys/request_key_auth.c
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ struct key *key_get_instantiation_authkey(key_serial_t target_id)
 		.index_key.type		= &key_type_request_key_auth,
 		.index_key.description	= description,
 		.cred			= current_cred(),
-		.match_data.cmp		= user_match,
+		.match_data.cmp		= key_default_cmp,
 		.match_data.raw_data	= description,
 		.match_data.lookup_type	= KEYRING_SEARCH_LOOKUP_DIRECT,
 	};
diff --git a/security/keys/trusted.c b/security/keys/trusted.c
index 6b804aa4529a17..c0594cb07adab1 100644
--- a/security/keys/trusted.c
+++ b/security/keys/trusted.c
@@ -1096,7 +1096,6 @@ struct key_type key_type_trusted = {
 	.name = "trusted",
 	.instantiate = trusted_instantiate,
 	.update = trusted_update,
-	.match = user_match,
 	.destroy = trusted_destroy,
 	.describe = user_describe,
 	.read = trusted_read,
diff --git a/security/keys/user_defined.c b/security/keys/user_defined.c
index cd7e726e8646a7..36b47bbd3d8cc2 100644
--- a/security/keys/user_defined.c
+++ b/security/keys/user_defined.c
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ struct key_type key_type_user = {
 	.free_preparse		= user_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate		= generic_key_instantiate,
 	.update			= user_update,
-	.match			= user_match,
 	.revoke			= user_revoke,
 	.destroy		= user_destroy,
 	.describe		= user_describe,
@@ -51,7 +50,6 @@ struct key_type key_type_logon = {
 	.free_preparse		= user_free_preparse,
 	.instantiate		= generic_key_instantiate,
 	.update			= user_update,
-	.match			= user_match,
 	.revoke			= user_revoke,
 	.destroy		= user_destroy,
 	.describe		= user_describe,
@@ -136,16 +134,6 @@ int user_update(struct key *key, struct key_preparsed_payload *prep)
 
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(user_update);
 
-/*
- * match users on their name
- */
-int user_match(const struct key *key, const struct key_match_data *match_data)
-{
-	return strcmp(key->description, match_data->raw_data) == 0;
-}
-
-EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(user_match);
-
 /*
  * dispose of the links from a revoked keyring
  * - called with the key sem write-locked