diff --git a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti-core.c b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti-core.c
index 838872f2484d..277c890a1f1f 100644
--- a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti-core.c
+++ b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti-core.c
@@ -107,12 +107,12 @@ static int cti_enable_hw(struct cti_drvdata *drvdata)
 	cti_write_all_hw_regs(drvdata);
 
 	config->hw_enabled = true;
-	atomic_inc(&drvdata->config.enable_req_count);
+	drvdata->config.enable_req_count++;
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&drvdata->spinlock, flags);
 	return rc;
 
 cti_state_unchanged:
-	atomic_inc(&drvdata->config.enable_req_count);
+	drvdata->config.enable_req_count++;
 
 	/* cannot enable due to error */
 cti_err_not_enabled:
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ static void cti_cpuhp_enable_hw(struct cti_drvdata *drvdata)
 	config->hw_powered = true;
 
 	/* no need to do anything if no enable request */
-	if (!atomic_read(&drvdata->config.enable_req_count))
+	if (!drvdata->config.enable_req_count)
 		goto cti_hp_not_enabled;
 
 	/* try to claim the device */
@@ -156,13 +156,13 @@ static int cti_disable_hw(struct cti_drvdata *drvdata)
 	spin_lock(&drvdata->spinlock);
 
 	/* don't allow negative refcounts, return an error */
-	if (!atomic_read(&drvdata->config.enable_req_count)) {
+	if (!drvdata->config.enable_req_count) {
 		ret = -EINVAL;
 		goto cti_not_disabled;
 	}
 
 	/* check refcount - disable on 0 */
-	if (atomic_dec_return(&drvdata->config.enable_req_count) > 0)
+	if (--drvdata->config.enable_req_count > 0)
 		goto cti_not_disabled;
 
 	/* no need to do anything if disabled or cpu unpowered */
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ static void cti_set_default_config(struct device *dev,
 	/* Most regs default to 0 as zalloc'ed except...*/
 	config->trig_filter_enable = true;
 	config->ctigate = GENMASK(config->nr_ctm_channels - 1, 0);
-	atomic_set(&config->enable_req_count, 0);
+	config->enable_req_count = 0;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ static int cti_cpu_pm_notify(struct notifier_block *nb, unsigned long cmd,
 		drvdata->config.hw_enabled = false;
 
 		/* check enable reference count to enable HW */
-		if (atomic_read(&drvdata->config.enable_req_count)) {
+		if (drvdata->config.enable_req_count) {
 			/* check we can claim the device as we re-power */
 			if (coresight_claim_device(csdev))
 				goto cti_notify_exit;
diff --git a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti-sysfs.c b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti-sysfs.c
index 71e7a8266bb3..e528cff9d4e2 100644
--- a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti-sysfs.c
+++ b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti-sysfs.c
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ static ssize_t enable_show(struct device *dev,
 	bool enabled, powered;
 	struct cti_drvdata *drvdata = dev_get_drvdata(dev->parent);
 
-	enable_req = atomic_read(&drvdata->config.enable_req_count);
 	spin_lock(&drvdata->spinlock);
+	enable_req = drvdata->config.enable_req_count;
 	powered = drvdata->config.hw_powered;
 	enabled = drvdata->config.hw_enabled;
 	spin_unlock(&drvdata->spinlock);
diff --git a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti.h b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti.h
index acf7b545e6b9..8b106b13a244 100644
--- a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti.h
+++ b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-cti.h
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ struct cti_config {
 	int nr_trig_max;
 
 	/* cti enable control */
-	atomic_t enable_req_count;
+	int enable_req_count;
 	bool hw_enabled;
 	bool hw_powered;