void dc_sink_retain(struct dc_sink *sink)
 {
-       ASSERT(atomic_read(&sink->ref_count) > 0);
-       atomic_inc(&sink->ref_count);
+       kref_get(&sink->refcount);
 }
 
-void dc_sink_release(struct dc_sink *sink)
+static void dc_sink_free(struct kref *kref)
 {
-       ASSERT(atomic_read(&sink->ref_count) > 0);
-       atomic_dec(&sink->ref_count);
+       struct dc_sink *sink = container_of(kref, struct dc_sink, refcount);
+       destruct(sink);
+       kfree(sink);
+}
 
-       if (atomic_read(&sink->ref_count) == 0) {
-               destruct(sink);
-               kfree(sink);
-       }
+void dc_sink_release(struct dc_sink *sink)
+{
+       kref_put(&sink->refcount, dc_sink_free);
 }
 
 struct dc_sink *dc_sink_create(const struct dc_sink_init_data *init_params)
        if (false == construct(sink, init_params))
                goto construct_fail;
 
-       atomic_inc(&sink->ref_count);
+       kref_init(&sink->refcount);
 
        return sink;