diff --git a/fs/jffs2/xattr.h b/fs/jffs2/xattr.h
index 4a10abc..06a5c69 100644
--- a/fs/jffs2/xattr.h
+++ b/fs/jffs2/xattr.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 	uint16_t xprefix;		/* see JFFS2_XATTR_PREFIX_* */
 
 	struct list_head xindex;	/* chained from c->xattrindex[n] */
-	uint32_t refcnt;		/* # of xattr_ref refers this */
+	atomic_t refcnt;		/* # of xattr_ref refers this */
 	uint32_t xid;
 	uint32_t version;