diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c b/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
index 5f605e7..fc58995 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ static __be32			nfsd_init_request(struct svc_rqst *,
 /*
  * nfsd_mutex protects nn->nfsd_serv -- both the pointer itself and the members
  * of the svc_serv struct. In particular, ->sv_nrthreads but also to some
- * extent ->sv_temp_socks and ->sv_permsocks. It also protects nfsdstats.th_cnt
+ * extent ->sv_temp_socks and ->sv_permsocks.
  *
  * If (out side the lock) nn->nfsd_serv is non-NULL, then it must point to a
  * properly initialised 'struct svc_serv' with ->sv_nrthreads > 0 (unless
@@ -955,8 +955,8 @@ nfsd(void *vrqstp)
 	allow_signal(SIGINT);
 	allow_signal(SIGQUIT);
 
-	nfsdstats.th_cnt++;
 	mutex_unlock(&nfsd_mutex);
+	atomic_inc(&nfsdstats.th_cnt);
 
 	set_freezable();
 
@@ -983,8 +983,8 @@ nfsd(void *vrqstp)
 	/* Clear signals before calling svc_exit_thread() */
 	flush_signals(current);
 
+	atomic_dec(&nfsdstats.th_cnt);
 	mutex_lock(&nfsd_mutex);
-	nfsdstats.th_cnt --;
 
 out:
 	/* Take an extra ref so that the svc_put in svc_exit_thread()