diff --git a/include/net/ax25.h b/include/net/ax25.h
index edd82f0a4d27..e3467ba81f6e 100644
--- a/include/net/ax25.h
+++ b/include/net/ax25.h
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ typedef struct {
 
 typedef struct ax25_route {
 	struct ax25_route	*next;
-	atomic_t		refcount;
+	refcount_t		refcount;
 	ax25_address		callsign;
 	struct net_device	*dev;
 	ax25_digi		*digipeat;
@@ -194,14 +194,14 @@ typedef struct ax25_route {
 
 static inline void ax25_hold_route(ax25_route *ax25_rt)
 {
-	atomic_inc(&ax25_rt->refcount);
+	refcount_inc(&ax25_rt->refcount);
 }
 
 void __ax25_put_route(ax25_route *ax25_rt);
 
 static inline void ax25_put_route(ax25_route *ax25_rt)
 {
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&ax25_rt->refcount))
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&ax25_rt->refcount))
 		__ax25_put_route(ax25_rt);
 }
 
diff --git a/net/ax25/ax25_route.c b/net/ax25/ax25_route.c
index e1fda27cb27c..0446b892618a 100644
--- a/net/ax25/ax25_route.c
+++ b/net/ax25/ax25_route.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ static int __must_check ax25_rt_add(struct ax25_routes_struct *route)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	atomic_set(&ax25_rt->refcount, 1);
+	refcount_set(&ax25_rt->refcount, 1);
 	ax25_rt->callsign     = route->dest_addr;
 	ax25_rt->dev          = ax25_dev->dev;
 	ax25_rt->digipeat     = NULL;