diff --git a/include/net/llc.h b/include/net/llc.h
index e8e61d4fb458..dc35f25eb679 100644
--- a/include/net/llc.h
+++ b/include/net/llc.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ struct llc_sap {
 	unsigned char	 state;
 	unsigned char	 p_bit;
 	unsigned char	 f_bit;
-	atomic_t         refcnt;
+	refcount_t		 refcnt;
 	int		 (*rcv_func)(struct sk_buff *skb,
 				     struct net_device *dev,
 				     struct packet_type *pt,
@@ -113,14 +113,14 @@ struct llc_sap *llc_sap_open(unsigned char lsap,
 					struct net_device *orig_dev));
 static inline void llc_sap_hold(struct llc_sap *sap)
 {
-	atomic_inc(&sap->refcnt);
+	refcount_inc(&sap->refcnt);
 }
 
 void llc_sap_close(struct llc_sap *sap);
 
 static inline void llc_sap_put(struct llc_sap *sap)
 {
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&sap->refcnt))
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&sap->refcnt))
 		llc_sap_close(sap);
 }
 
diff --git a/net/llc/llc_core.c b/net/llc/llc_core.c
index 842851cef698..89041260784c 100644
--- a/net/llc/llc_core.c
+++ b/net/llc/llc_core.c
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ static struct llc_sap *llc_sap_alloc(void)
 		spin_lock_init(&sap->sk_lock);
 		for (i = 0; i < LLC_SK_LADDR_HASH_ENTRIES; i++)
 			INIT_HLIST_NULLS_HEAD(&sap->sk_laddr_hash[i], i);
-		atomic_set(&sap->refcnt, 1);
+		refcount_set(&sap->refcnt, 1);
 	}
 	return sap;
 }