diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-table.c b/drivers/md/dm-table.c
index ef7b8f201f73..fc7d240cbf05 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-table.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-table.c
@@ -451,15 +451,15 @@ int dm_get_device(struct dm_target *ti, const char *path, fmode_t mode,
 			return r;
 		}
 
-		atomic_set(&dd->count, 0);
+		refcount_set(&dd->count, 1);
 		list_add(&dd->list, &t->devices);
 
 	} else if (dd->dm_dev->mode != (mode | dd->dm_dev->mode)) {
 		r = upgrade_mode(dd, mode, t->md);
 		if (r)
 			return r;
+		refcount_inc(&dd->count);
 	}
-	atomic_inc(&dd->count);
 
 	*result = dd->dm_dev;
 	return 0;
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ void dm_put_device(struct dm_target *ti, struct dm_dev *d)
 		       dm_device_name(ti->table->md), d->name);
 		return;
 	}
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&dd->count)) {
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&dd->count)) {
 		dm_put_table_device(ti->table->md, d);
 		list_del(&dd->list);
 		kfree(dd);
diff --git a/drivers/md/dm.h b/drivers/md/dm.h
index 38c84c0a35d4..36399bb875dd 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm.h
+++ b/drivers/md/dm.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <linux/hdreg.h>
 #include <linux/completion.h>
 #include <linux/kobject.h>
+#include <linux/refcount.h>
 
 #include "dm-stats.h"
 
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@
  */
 struct dm_dev_internal {
 	struct list_head list;
-	atomic_t count;
+	refcount_t count;
 	struct dm_dev *dm_dev;
 };