return err;
        }
 
-       if (!atomic_read(&dev->core->mpeg_users) && blackbird_initialize_codec(dev) < 0) {
+       if (!dev->core->mpeg_users && blackbird_initialize_codec(dev) < 0) {
                drv->request_release(drv);
                mutex_unlock(&dev->core->lock);
                return -EINVAL;
        cx88_set_scale(dev->core, dev->width, dev->height,
                        fh->mpegq.field);
 
-       atomic_inc(&dev->core->mpeg_users);
+       dev->core->mpeg_users++;
        mutex_unlock(&dev->core->lock);
        return 0;
 }
        struct cx8802_dev *dev = fh->dev;
        struct cx8802_driver *drv = NULL;
 
-       if (dev->mpeg_active && atomic_read(&dev->core->mpeg_users) == 1)
+       mutex_lock(&dev->core->lock);
+
+       if (dev->mpeg_active && dev->core->mpeg_users == 1)
                blackbird_stop_codec(dev);
 
        cx8802_cancel_buffers(fh->dev);
 
        videobuf_mmap_free(&fh->mpegq);
 
-       mutex_lock(&dev->core->lock);
        file->private_data = NULL;
        kfree(fh);
 
        if (drv)
                drv->request_release(drv);
 
-       atomic_dec(&dev->core->mpeg_users);
+       dev->core->mpeg_users--;
 
        mutex_unlock(&dev->core->lock);