diff --git a/dbus/dbus-resources.c b/dbus/dbus-resources.c
index 80fb55b..991bb58 100644
--- a/dbus/dbus-resources.c
+++ b/dbus/dbus-resources.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
  */
 struct DBusCounter
 {
-  int refcount;  /**< reference count */
+  DBusAtomic refcount;  /**< reference count */
 
   long size_value;       /**< current size counter value */
   long unix_fd_value;    /**< current unix fd counter value */
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ _dbus_counter_new (void)
   if (counter == NULL)
     return NULL;
 
-  counter->refcount = 1;
+  _dbus_atomic_inc (&counter->refcount);
 
   return counter;
 }
@@ -107,9 +107,9 @@ _dbus_counter_new (void)
 DBusCounter *
 _dbus_counter_ref (DBusCounter *counter)
 {
-  _dbus_assert (counter->refcount > 0);
+  _dbus_assert (_dbus_atomic_get (&counter->refcount) > 0);
   
-  counter->refcount += 1;
+  _dbus_atomic_inc (&counter->refcount);
 
   return counter;
 }
@@ -123,11 +123,13 @@ _dbus_counter_ref (DBusCounter *counter)
 void
 _dbus_counter_unref (DBusCounter *counter)
 {
-  _dbus_assert (counter->refcount > 0);
+ dbus_int32_t old_refcount;
 
-  counter->refcount -= 1;
+  old_refcount = _dbus_atomic_dec (&counter->refcount);
 
-  if (counter->refcount == 0)
+  _dbus_assert (old_refcount >= 1);
+
+  if (old_refcount == 1)
     {
       
       dbus_free (counter);