diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/debug.c b/sound/soc/sof/debug.c
index 6f61a39cbb2cd1..2dbc98423d2739 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/debug.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/debug.c
@@ -89,9 +89,10 @@ static const struct file_operations sof_dfs_fops = {
 	.llseek = default_llseek,
 };
 
-int snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
-				void __iomem *base, size_t size,
-				const char *name)
+/* create FS entry for debug files that can expose DSP memories, registers */
+int snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
+				   void __iomem *base, size_t size,
+				   const char *name)
 {
 	struct snd_sof_dfsentry_io *dfse;
 
@@ -115,7 +116,36 @@ int snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
 
 	return 0;
 }
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_sof_debugfs_create_item);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item);
+
+/* create FS entry for debug files to expose kernel memory */
+int snd_sof_debugfs_buf_create_item(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
+				    void *base, size_t size,
+				    const char *name)
+{
+	struct snd_sof_dfsentry_buf *dfse;
+
+	if (!sdev)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	dfse = devm_kzalloc(sdev->dev, sizeof(*dfse), GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (!dfse)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	dfse->buf = base;
+	dfse->size = size;
+	dfse->sdev = sdev;
+
+	dfse->dfsentry = debugfs_create_file(name, 0444, sdev->debugfs_root,
+					     dfse, &sof_dfs_fops);
+	if (!dfse->dfsentry) {
+		dev_err(sdev->dev, "cannot create debugfs entry.\n");
+		return -ENODEV;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_sof_debugfs_buf_create_item);
 
 int snd_sof_dbg_init(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev)
 {
@@ -134,7 +164,7 @@ int snd_sof_dbg_init(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev)
 	for (i = 0; i < ops->debug_map_count; i++) {
 		map = &ops->debug_map[i];
 
-		err = snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev, sdev->bar[map->bar] +
+		err = snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev, sdev->bar[map->bar] +
 						  map->offset, map->size,
 						  map->name);
 		if (err < 0)
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/intel/bdw.c b/sound/soc/sof/intel/bdw.c
index 46833e90ae26d1..20c89d32188a10 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/intel/bdw.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/intel/bdw.c
@@ -426,51 +426,55 @@ static void bdw_get_windows(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev)
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_UPBOX:
 			inbox_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
 			inbox_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    inbox_offset,
-						    elem->size, "inbox");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       inbox_offset,
+						       elem->size, "inbox");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_DOWNBOX:
 			outbox_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
 			outbox_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    outbox_offset,
-						    elem->size, "outbox");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       outbox_offset,
+						       elem->size, "outbox");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_TRACE:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "etrace");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "etrace");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_DEBUG:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "debug");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "debug");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_STREAM:
 			stream_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
 			stream_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    stream_offset,
-						    elem->size, "stream");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       stream_offset,
+						       elem->size, "stream");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_REGS:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "regs");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "regs");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_EXCEPTION:
 			sdev->dsp_oops_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "exception");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BDW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "exception");
 			break;
 		default:
 			dev_err(sdev->dev, "error: get illegal window info\n");
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/intel/byt.c b/sound/soc/sof/intel/byt.c
index 2d360f7e7ecbb0..cfa39b2305bc0e 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/intel/byt.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/intel/byt.c
@@ -186,51 +186,55 @@ static void byt_get_windows(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev)
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_UPBOX:
 			inbox_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
 			inbox_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
-						    inbox_offset,
-						    elem->size, "inbox");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
+						       inbox_offset,
+						       elem->size, "inbox");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_DOWNBOX:
 			outbox_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
 			outbox_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
-						    outbox_offset,
-						    elem->size, "outbox");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
+						       outbox_offset,
+						       elem->size, "outbox");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_TRACE:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "etrace");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "etrace");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_DEBUG:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "debug");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "debug");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_STREAM:
 			stream_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
 			stream_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
-						    stream_offset,
-						    elem->size, "stream");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
+						       stream_offset,
+						       elem->size, "stream");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_REGS:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "regs");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "regs");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_EXCEPTION:
 			sdev->dsp_oops_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "exception");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[BYT_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "exception");
 			break;
 		default:
 			dev_err(sdev->dev, "error: get illegal window info\n");
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/intel/hda-ipc.c b/sound/soc/sof/intel/hda-ipc.c
index 94d1d7807eabef..efaf293c2c77dc 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/intel/hda-ipc.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/intel/hda-ipc.c
@@ -285,64 +285,64 @@ static void ipc_get_windows(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev)
 			inbox_offset =
 				elem->offset + SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET(elem->id);
 			inbox_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
-						    inbox_offset,
-						    elem->size, "inbox");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
+						       inbox_offset,
+						       elem->size, "inbox");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_DOWNBOX:
 			outbox_offset =
 				elem->offset + SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET(elem->id);
 			outbox_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
-						    outbox_offset,
-						    elem->size, "outbox");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
+						       outbox_offset,
+						       elem->size, "outbox");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_TRACE:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset +
-						    SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET
-						    (elem->id),
-						    elem->size, "etrace");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET
+						       (elem->id),
+						       elem->size, "etrace");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_DEBUG:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset +
-						    SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET
-						    (elem->id),
-						    elem->size, "debug");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET
+						       (elem->id),
+						       elem->size, "debug");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_STREAM:
 			stream_offset =
 				elem->offset + SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET(elem->id);
 			stream_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset +
-						    SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET
-						    (elem->id),
-						    elem->size, "stream");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET
+						       (elem->id),
+						       elem->size, "stream");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_REGS:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset +
-						    SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET
-						    (elem->id),
-						    elem->size, "regs");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET
+						       (elem->id),
+						       elem->size, "regs");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_EXCEPTION:
 			sdev->dsp_oops_offset = elem->offset +
 						SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET(elem->id);
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset +
-						    SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET
-						    (elem->id),
-						    elem->size, "exception");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HDA_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       SRAM_WINDOW_OFFSET
+						       (elem->id),
+						       elem->size, "exception");
 			break;
 		default:
 			dev_err(sdev->dev, "error: get illegal window info\n");
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/intel/hsw.c b/sound/soc/sof/intel/hsw.c
index 3b3f59a73a298c..0c6d04a7ca4dd4 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/intel/hsw.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/intel/hsw.c
@@ -427,51 +427,55 @@ static void hsw_get_windows(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev)
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_UPBOX:
 			inbox_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
 			inbox_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    inbox_offset,
-						    elem->size, "inbox");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       inbox_offset,
+						       elem->size, "inbox");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_DOWNBOX:
 			outbox_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
 			outbox_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    outbox_offset,
-						    elem->size, "outbox");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       outbox_offset,
+						       elem->size, "outbox");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_TRACE:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "etrace");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "etrace");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_DEBUG:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "debug");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "debug");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_STREAM:
 			stream_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
 			stream_size = elem->size;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    stream_offset,
-						    elem->size, "stream");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       stream_offset,
+						       elem->size, "stream");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_REGS:
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "regs");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "regs");
 			break;
 		case SOF_IPC_REGION_EXCEPTION:
 			sdev->dsp_oops_offset = elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET;
-			snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev,
-						    sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
-						    elem->offset + MBOX_OFFSET,
-						    elem->size, "exception");
+			snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(sdev,
+						       sdev->bar[HSW_DSP_BAR] +
+						       elem->offset +
+						       MBOX_OFFSET,
+						       elem->size, "exception");
 			break;
 		default:
 			dev_err(sdev->dev, "error: get illegal window info\n");
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/loader.c b/sound/soc/sof/loader.c
index bc36359e2b70f9..b23fa0fe6a328c 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/loader.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/loader.c
@@ -280,9 +280,9 @@ int snd_sof_run_firmware(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev)
 
 	/* create fw_version debugfs to store boot version info */
 	if (sdev->first_boot) {
-		ret = snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(sdev, &sdev->fw_version,
-						  sizeof(sdev->fw_version),
-						  "fw_version");
+		ret = snd_sof_debugfs_buf_create_item(sdev, &sdev->fw_version,
+						      sizeof(sdev->fw_version),
+						      "fw_version");
 
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			dev_err(sdev->dev, "cannot create debugfs for fw_version\n");
diff --git a/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h b/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h
index 3f619f5f2691cb..3923102793778c 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h
+++ b/sound/soc/sof/sof-priv.h
@@ -497,9 +497,12 @@ void snd_sof_release_trace(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev);
 void snd_sof_free_trace(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev);
 int snd_sof_dbg_init(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev);
 void snd_sof_free_debug(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev);
-int snd_sof_debugfs_create_item(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
-				void __iomem *base, size_t size,
-				const char *name);
+int snd_sof_debugfs_io_create_item(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
+				   void __iomem *base, size_t size,
+				   const char *name);
+int snd_sof_debugfs_buf_create_item(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
+				    void *base, size_t size,
+				    const char *name);
 int snd_sof_trace_update_pos(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev,
 			     struct sof_ipc_dma_trace_posn *posn);
 void snd_sof_trace_notify_for_error(struct snd_sof_dev *sdev);