diff --git a/include/net/sctp/structs.h b/include/net/sctp/structs.h
index 6a0d37258506..5ab29af8ca8a 100644
--- a/include/net/sctp/structs.h
+++ b/include/net/sctp/structs.h
@@ -1174,7 +1174,7 @@ struct sctp_ep_common {
 	 *   refcnt   - Reference count access to this object.
 	 *   dead     - Do not attempt to use this object.
 	 */
-	atomic_t    refcnt;
+	refcount_t    refcnt;
 	bool	    dead;
 
 	/* What socket does this endpoint belong to?  */
diff --git a/net/sctp/associola.c b/net/sctp/associola.c
index fa4f530ab7e1..40ec83679d6e 100644
--- a/net/sctp/associola.c
+++ b/net/sctp/associola.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ static struct sctp_association *sctp_association_init(struct sctp_association *a
 	asoc->base.type = SCTP_EP_TYPE_ASSOCIATION;
 
 	/* Initialize the object handling fields.  */
-	atomic_set(&asoc->base.refcnt, 1);
+	refcount_set(&asoc->base.refcnt, 1);
 
 	/* Initialize the bind addr area.  */
 	sctp_bind_addr_init(&asoc->base.bind_addr, ep->base.bind_addr.port);
@@ -873,7 +873,7 @@ void sctp_assoc_control_transport(struct sctp_association *asoc,
 /* Hold a reference to an association. */
 void sctp_association_hold(struct sctp_association *asoc)
 {
-	atomic_inc(&asoc->base.refcnt);
+	refcount_inc(&asoc->base.refcnt);
 }
 
 /* Release a reference to an association and cleanup
@@ -881,7 +881,7 @@ void sctp_association_hold(struct sctp_association *asoc)
  */
 void sctp_association_put(struct sctp_association *asoc)
 {
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&asoc->base.refcnt))
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&asoc->base.refcnt))
 		sctp_association_destroy(asoc);
 }
 
diff --git a/net/sctp/endpointola.c b/net/sctp/endpointola.c
index efbc31877804..0e86f988f836 100644
--- a/net/sctp/endpointola.c
+++ b/net/sctp/endpointola.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ static struct sctp_endpoint *sctp_endpoint_init(struct sctp_endpoint *ep,
 	ep->base.type = SCTP_EP_TYPE_SOCKET;
 
 	/* Initialize the basic object fields. */
-	atomic_set(&ep->base.refcnt, 1);
+	refcount_set(&ep->base.refcnt, 1);
 	ep->base.dead = false;
 
 	/* Create an input queue.  */
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ static void sctp_endpoint_destroy(struct sctp_endpoint *ep)
 /* Hold a reference to an endpoint. */
 void sctp_endpoint_hold(struct sctp_endpoint *ep)
 {
-	atomic_inc(&ep->base.refcnt);
+	refcount_inc(&ep->base.refcnt);
 }
 
 /* Release a reference to an endpoint and clean up if there are
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ void sctp_endpoint_hold(struct sctp_endpoint *ep)
  */
 void sctp_endpoint_put(struct sctp_endpoint *ep)
 {
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&ep->base.refcnt))
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&ep->base.refcnt))
 		sctp_endpoint_destroy(ep);
 }