diff --git a/drivers/net/macsec.c b/drivers/net/macsec.c
index e0aeb51a5dab..8948b6adc0c5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/macsec.c
+++ b/drivers/net/macsec.c
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ struct macsec_tx_sa {
 	struct macsec_key key;
 	spinlock_t lock;
 	u32 next_pn;
-	atomic_t refcnt;
+	refcount_t refcnt;
 	bool active;
 	struct macsec_tx_sa_stats __percpu *stats;
 	struct rcu_head rcu;
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ static struct macsec_tx_sa *macsec_txsa_get(struct macsec_tx_sa __rcu *ptr)
 	if (!sa || !sa->active)
 		return NULL;
 
-	if (!atomic_inc_not_zero(&sa->refcnt))
+	if (!refcount_inc_not_zero(&sa->refcnt))
 		return NULL;
 
 	return sa;
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ static void free_txsa(struct rcu_head *head)
 
 static void macsec_txsa_put(struct macsec_tx_sa *sa)
 {
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&sa->refcnt))
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(&sa->refcnt))
 		call_rcu(&sa->rcu, free_txsa);
 }
 
@@ -1437,7 +1437,7 @@ static int init_tx_sa(struct macsec_tx_sa *tx_sa, char *sak, int key_len,
 	}
 
 	tx_sa->active = false;
-	atomic_set(&tx_sa->refcnt, 1);
+	refcount_set(&tx_sa->refcnt, 1);
 	spin_lock_init(&tx_sa->lock);
 
 	return 0;