diff --git a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core.h b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core.h
index badf42acbf95..f5ee62c98011 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core.h
+++ b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include <linux/ethtool.h>
 #include <linux/hashtable.h>
 #include <linux/ip.h>
+#include <linux/refcount.h>
 
 #include <net/ipv6.h>
 #include <net/if_inet6.h>
@@ -632,7 +633,7 @@ struct qeth_reply {
 	int rc;
 	void *param;
 	struct qeth_card *card;
-	atomic_t refcnt;
+	refcount_t refcnt;
 };
 
 struct qeth_card_blkt {
diff --git a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c
index 6c815207f4f5..bc4e57540a9e 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ static struct qeth_reply *qeth_alloc_reply(struct qeth_card *card)
 
 	reply = kzalloc(sizeof(struct qeth_reply), GFP_ATOMIC);
 	if (reply) {
-		atomic_set(&reply->refcnt, 1);
+		refcount_set(&reply->refcnt, 1);
 		atomic_set(&reply->received, 0);
 		reply->card = card;
 	}
@@ -573,14 +573,12 @@ static struct qeth_reply *qeth_alloc_reply(struct qeth_card *card)
 
 static void qeth_get_reply(struct qeth_reply *reply)
 {
-	WARN_ON(atomic_read(&reply->refcnt) <= 0);
-	atomic_inc(&reply->refcnt);
+	refcount_inc(&reply->refcnt);
 }
 
 static void qeth_put_reply(struct qeth_reply *reply)
 {
-	WARN_ON(atomic_read(&reply->refcnt) <= 0);
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&reply->refcnt))
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&reply->refcnt))
 		kfree(reply);
 }