diff --git a/include/linux/netfilter/x_tables.h b/include/linux/netfilter/x_tables.h
index 26a41ddd3dec..d6c53fce006b 100644
--- a/include/linux/netfilter/x_tables.h
+++ b/include/linux/netfilter/x_tables.h
@@ -381,16 +381,16 @@ static inline unsigned long ifname_compare_aligned(const char *_a,
  * allows us to return 0 for single core systems without forcing
  * callers to deal with SMP vs. NONSMP issues.
  */
-static inline u64 xt_percpu_counter_alloc(void)
+static inline unsigned long xt_percpu_counter_alloc(void)
 {
 	if (nr_cpu_ids > 1) {
 		void __percpu *res = __alloc_percpu(sizeof(struct xt_counters),
 						    sizeof(struct xt_counters));
 
 		if (res == NULL)
-			return (u64) -ENOMEM;
+			return -ENOMEM;
 
-		return (u64) (__force unsigned long) res;
+		return (__force unsigned long) res;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/net/ipv4/netfilter/arp_tables.c b/net/ipv4/netfilter/arp_tables.c
index c75211528991..4cfcc22f7430 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/netfilter/arp_tables.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/netfilter/arp_tables.c
@@ -511,11 +511,13 @@ find_check_entry(struct arpt_entry *e, const char *name, unsigned int size)
 {
 	struct xt_entry_target *t;
 	struct xt_target *target;
+	unsigned long pcnt;
 	int ret;
 
-	e->counters.pcnt = xt_percpu_counter_alloc();
-	if (IS_ERR_VALUE(e->counters.pcnt))
+	pcnt = xt_percpu_counter_alloc();
+	if (IS_ERR_VALUE(pcnt))
 		return -ENOMEM;
+	e->counters.pcnt = pcnt;
 
 	t = arpt_get_target(e);
 	target = xt_request_find_target(NFPROTO_ARP, t->u.user.name,
diff --git a/net/ipv4/netfilter/ip_tables.c b/net/ipv4/netfilter/ip_tables.c
index 2ba158f2cb72..a98173d1ea97 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/netfilter/ip_tables.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/netfilter/ip_tables.c
@@ -653,10 +653,12 @@ find_check_entry(struct ipt_entry *e, struct net *net, const char *name,
 	unsigned int j;
 	struct xt_mtchk_param mtpar;
 	struct xt_entry_match *ematch;
+	unsigned long pcnt;
 
-	e->counters.pcnt = xt_percpu_counter_alloc();
-	if (IS_ERR_VALUE(e->counters.pcnt))
+	pcnt = xt_percpu_counter_alloc();
+	if (IS_ERR_VALUE(pcnt))
 		return -ENOMEM;
+	e->counters.pcnt = pcnt;
 
 	j = 0;
 	mtpar.net	= net;
diff --git a/net/ipv6/netfilter/ip6_tables.c b/net/ipv6/netfilter/ip6_tables.c
index c26bed92f523..bb1b5453a7a1 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/netfilter/ip6_tables.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/netfilter/ip6_tables.c
@@ -666,10 +666,12 @@ find_check_entry(struct ip6t_entry *e, struct net *net, const char *name,
 	unsigned int j;
 	struct xt_mtchk_param mtpar;
 	struct xt_entry_match *ematch;
+	unsigned long pcnt;
 
-	e->counters.pcnt = xt_percpu_counter_alloc();
-	if (IS_ERR_VALUE(e->counters.pcnt))
+	pcnt = xt_percpu_counter_alloc();
+	if (IS_ERR_VALUE(pcnt))
 		return -ENOMEM;
+	e->counters.pcnt = pcnt;
 
 	j = 0;
 	mtpar.net	= net;