diff --git a/kernel/sched/fair.c b/kernel/sched/fair.c
index e2ff4b69dcf6..5b2b919c7929 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/fair.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/fair.c
@@ -1035,7 +1035,7 @@ unsigned int sysctl_numa_balancing_scan_size = 256;
 unsigned int sysctl_numa_balancing_scan_delay = 1000;
 
 struct numa_group {
-	atomic_t refcount;
+	refcount_t refcount;
 
 	spinlock_t lock; /* nr_tasks, tasks */
 	int nr_tasks;
@@ -1104,7 +1104,7 @@ static unsigned int task_scan_start(struct task_struct *p)
 		unsigned long shared = group_faults_shared(ng);
 		unsigned long private = group_faults_priv(ng);
 
-		period *= atomic_read(&ng->refcount);
+		period *= refcount_read(&ng->refcount);
 		period *= shared + 1;
 		period /= private + shared + 1;
 	}
@@ -1127,7 +1127,7 @@ static unsigned int task_scan_max(struct task_struct *p)
 		unsigned long private = group_faults_priv(ng);
 		unsigned long period = smax;
 
-		period *= atomic_read(&ng->refcount);
+		period *= refcount_read(&ng->refcount);
 		period *= shared + 1;
 		period /= private + shared + 1;
 
@@ -2203,12 +2203,12 @@ static void task_numa_placement(struct task_struct *p)
 
 static inline int get_numa_group(struct numa_group *grp)
 {
-	return atomic_inc_not_zero(&grp->refcount);
+	return refcount_inc_not_zero(&grp->refcount);
 }
 
 static inline void put_numa_group(struct numa_group *grp)
 {
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&grp->refcount))
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&grp->refcount))
 		kfree_rcu(grp, rcu);
 }
 
@@ -2229,7 +2229,7 @@ static void task_numa_group(struct task_struct *p, int cpupid, int flags,
 		if (!grp)
 			return;
 
-		atomic_set(&grp->refcount, 1);
+		refcount_set(&grp->refcount, 1);
 		grp->active_nodes = 1;
 		grp->max_faults_cpu = 0;
 		spin_lock_init(&grp->lock);