tstamp->start = ktime_get_real_ns();
 }
 
+/* caller must hold locks to prevent concurrent changes */
 static int __nf_ct_resolve_clash(struct sk_buff *skb,
                                 struct nf_conntrack_tuple_hash *h)
 {
        if (nf_ct_is_dying(ct))
                return NF_DROP;
 
-       if (!atomic_inc_not_zero(&ct->ct_general.use))
-               return NF_DROP;
-
        if (((ct->status & IPS_NAT_DONE_MASK) == 0) ||
            nf_ct_match(ct, loser_ct)) {
                struct net *net = nf_ct_net(ct);
 
+               nf_conntrack_get(&ct->ct_general);
+
                nf_ct_acct_merge(ct, ctinfo, loser_ct);
                nf_ct_add_to_dying_list(loser_ct);
                nf_conntrack_put(&loser_ct->ct_general);
                return NF_ACCEPT;
        }
 
-       nf_ct_put(ct);
        return NF_DROP;
 }