diff --git a/block/bfq-cgroup.c b/block/bfq-cgroup.c
index 1b2829e99dad..7d9b15f0dbd5 100644
--- a/block/bfq-cgroup.c
+++ b/block/bfq-cgroup.c
@@ -316,14 +316,12 @@ struct bfq_group *bfqq_group(struct bfq_queue *bfqq)
 
 static void bfqg_get(struct bfq_group *bfqg)
 {
-	bfqg->ref++;
+	refcount_inc(&bfqg->ref);
 }
 
 static void bfqg_put(struct bfq_group *bfqg)
 {
-	bfqg->ref--;
-
-	if (bfqg->ref == 0)
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&bfqg->ref))
 		kfree(bfqg);
 }
 
@@ -530,7 +528,7 @@ static struct blkg_policy_data *bfq_pd_alloc(gfp_t gfp, struct request_queue *q,
 	}
 
 	/* see comments in bfq_bic_update_cgroup for why refcounting */
-	bfqg_get(bfqg);
+	refcount_set(&bfqg->ref, 1);
 	return &bfqg->pd;
 }
 
diff --git a/block/bfq-iosched.h b/block/bfq-iosched.h
index 41aa151ccc22..466e4865ace6 100644
--- a/block/bfq-iosched.h
+++ b/block/bfq-iosched.h
@@ -928,7 +928,7 @@ struct bfq_group {
 	char blkg_path[128];
 
 	/* reference counter (see comments in bfq_bic_update_cgroup) */
-	int ref;
+	refcount_t ref;
 	/* Is bfq_group still online? */
 	bool online;