diff --git a/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_sph.c b/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_sph.c
index f770d7753f..72e6b0cbb2 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_sph.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_sph.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ static int sph_open(struct file *filep)
 {
   /* Exclusive access */
 
-  if (filep->f_inode->i_crefs > 2)
+  if (atomic_load(&filep->f_inode->i_crefs) > 2)
     {
       return ERROR;
     }
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_uart0.c b/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_uart0.c
index 1f1841f200..c0eeb97125 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_uart0.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_uart0.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static int uart0_open(struct file *filep)
   int stop;
   int ret;
 
-  if (inode->i_crefs > 2)
+  if (atomic_load(&inode->i_crefs) > 2)
     {
       return OK;
     }
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ static int uart0_close(struct file *filep)
 {
   struct inode *inode = filep->f_inode;
 
-  if (inode->i_crefs == 2)
+  if (atomic_load(&inode->i_crefs) == 2)
     {
       fw_pd_uartdisable(0);
       fw_pd_uartuninit(0);
diff --git a/crypto/cryptodev.c b/crypto/cryptodev.c
index 2e6adcf09e..1e545de8f3 100644
--- a/crypto/cryptodev.c
+++ b/crypto/cryptodev.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ static const struct file_operations g_cryptoops =
 
 static struct inode g_cryptoinode =
 {
-  .i_crefs = 1,
+  .i_crefs = ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(1),
   .u.i_ops = &g_cryptofops
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/serial/pty.c b/drivers/serial/pty.c
index 6e30277c5d..bc37f9050d 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/pty.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/pty.c
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ static int pty_close(FAR struct file *filep)
 
   /* Check if the decremented inode reference count would go to zero */
 
-  if (inode->i_crefs == 1)
+  if (atomic_load(&inode->i_crefs) == 1)
     {
       /* Did the (single) master just close its reference? */
 
diff --git a/fs/inode/fs_inodeaddref.c b/fs/inode/fs_inodeaddref.c
index 896e7d1d38..9187a8fae0 100644
--- a/fs/inode/fs_inodeaddref.c
+++ b/fs/inode/fs_inodeaddref.c
@@ -47,12 +47,7 @@ int inode_addref(FAR struct inode *inode)
 
   if (inode)
     {
-      ret = inode_lock();
-      if (ret >= 0)
-        {
-          inode->i_crefs++;
-          inode_unlock();
-        }
+      atomic_fetch_add(&inode->i_crefs, 1);
     }
 
   return ret;
diff --git a/fs/inode/fs_inodefind.c b/fs/inode/fs_inodefind.c
index d8e3a9815c..47fe84df95 100644
--- a/fs/inode/fs_inodefind.c
+++ b/fs/inode/fs_inodefind.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ int inode_find(FAR struct inode_search_s *desc)
 
       /* Increment the reference count on the inode */
 
-      node->i_crefs++;
+      atomic_fetch_add(&node->i_crefs, 1);
     }
 
   inode_unlock();
diff --git a/fs/inode/fs_inoderelease.c b/fs/inode/fs_inoderelease.c
index 0a32620316..0c5a680c66 100644
--- a/fs/inode/fs_inoderelease.c
+++ b/fs/inode/fs_inoderelease.c
@@ -47,49 +47,14 @@
 
 void inode_release(FAR struct inode *inode)
 {
-  int ret;
-
   if (inode)
     {
       /* Decrement the references of the inode */
 
-      do
+      if (atomic_fetch_sub(&inode->i_crefs, 1) <= 1)
         {
-          ret = inode_lock();
-
-          /* This only possible error is due to cancellation of the thread.
-           * We need to try again anyway in this case, otherwise the
-           * reference count would be wrong.
-           */
-
-          DEBUGASSERT(ret == OK || ret == -ECANCELED);
-        }
-      while (ret < 0);
-
-      if (inode->i_crefs)
-        {
-          inode->i_crefs--;
-        }
-
-      /* If the subtree was previously deleted and the reference
-       * count has decrement to zero,  then delete the inode
-       * now.
-       */
-
-      if (inode->i_crefs <= 0)
-        {
-          /* If the inode has been properly unlinked, then the peer pointer
-           * should be NULL.
-           */
-
-          inode_unlock();
-
           DEBUGASSERT(inode->i_peer == NULL);
           inode_free(inode);
         }
-      else
-        {
-          inode_unlock();
-        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/fs/inode/fs_inoderemove.c b/fs/inode/fs_inoderemove.c
index e5396df2a0..0006855153 100644
--- a/fs/inode/fs_inoderemove.c
+++ b/fs/inode/fs_inoderemove.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ static FAR struct inode *inode_unlink(FAR const char *path)
 
       node->i_peer   = NULL;
       node->i_parent = NULL;
-      node->i_crefs--;
+      atomic_fetch_sub(&node->i_crefs, 1);
     }
 
   RELEASE_SEARCH(&desc);
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ int inode_remove(FAR const char *path)
        * to it
        */
 
-      if (node->i_crefs)
+      if (atomic_load(&node->i_crefs))
         {
           return -EBUSY;
         }
diff --git a/fs/inode/fs_inodereserve.c b/fs/inode/fs_inodereserve.c
index f7ba4002e3..33fdbfd043 100644
--- a/fs/inode/fs_inodereserve.c
+++ b/fs/inode/fs_inodereserve.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ static FAR struct inode *inode_alloc(FAR const char *name, mode_t mode)
   if (node)
     {
       node->i_ino   = g_ino++;
-      node->i_crefs = 1;
+      atomic_init(&node->i_crefs, 1);
 #ifdef CONFIG_PSEUDOFS_ATTRIBUTES
       node->i_mode  = mode;
       clock_gettime(CLOCK_REALTIME, &node->i_atime);
diff --git a/fs/mount/fs_mount.c b/fs/mount/fs_mount.c
index 55c3cd25e6..a23fdc364f 100644
--- a/fs/mount/fs_mount.c
+++ b/fs/mount/fs_mount.c
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ int nx_mount(FAR const char *source, FAR const char *target,
   if (drvr_inode != NULL)
 #endif
     {
-      drvr_inode->i_crefs++;
+      atomic_fetch_add(&drvr_inode->i_crefs, 1);
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ int nx_mount(FAR const char *source, FAR const char *target,
       if (drvr_inode != NULL)
 #endif
         {
-          drvr_inode->i_crefs--;
+          atomic_fetch_sub(&drvr_inode->i_crefs, 1);
         }
 #endif
 
diff --git a/fs/mount/fs_umount2.c b/fs/mount/fs_umount2.c
index 121be901a8..76ee449ece 100644
--- a/fs/mount/fs_umount2.c
+++ b/fs/mount/fs_umount2.c
@@ -145,8 +145,7 @@ int nx_umount2(FAR const char *target, unsigned int flags)
     {
       /* Just decrement the reference count (without deleting it) */
 
-      DEBUGASSERT(mountpt_inode->i_crefs > 0);
-      mountpt_inode->i_crefs--;
+      atomic_fetch_sub(&mountpt_inode->i_crefs, 1);
       inode_unlock();
     }
   else
diff --git a/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c b/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c
index 9c4bbbc326..84d1454558 100644
--- a/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c
+++ b/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ static int nxmq_file_close(FAR struct file *filep)
 {
   FAR struct inode *inode = filep->f_inode;
 
-  if (inode->i_crefs <= 0)
+  if (atomic_load(&inode->i_crefs) <= 0)
     {
       FAR struct mqueue_inode_s *msgq = inode->i_private;
 
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ static int file_mq_vopen(FAR struct file *mq, FAR const char *mq_name,
 
       /* Set the initial reference count on this inode to one */
 
-      inode->i_crefs++;
+      atomic_fetch_add(&inode->i_crefs, 1);
 
       if (created)
         {
diff --git a/fs/mqueue/mq_unlink.c b/fs/mqueue/mq_unlink.c
index c5280e51b1..d6a1c14e58 100644
--- a/fs/mqueue/mq_unlink.c
+++ b/fs/mqueue/mq_unlink.c
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 
 static void mq_inode_release(FAR struct inode *inode)
 {
-  if (inode->i_crefs <= 1)
+  if (atomic_load(&inode->i_crefs) <= 1)
     {
       FAR struct mqueue_inode_s *msgq = inode->i_private;
 
diff --git a/fs/notify/inotify.c b/fs/notify/inotify.c
index 5b22cfd8e3..3f95180fd4 100644
--- a/fs/notify/inotify.c
+++ b/fs/notify/inotify.c
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ static struct inode g_inotify_inode =
   NULL,
   NULL,
   NULL,
-  1,
+  ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(1),
   FSNODEFLAG_TYPE_DRIVER,
   {
     &g_inotify_fops
diff --git a/fs/semaphore/sem_close.c b/fs/semaphore/sem_close.c
index fdab469486..ae8bd12652 100644
--- a/fs/semaphore/sem_close.c
+++ b/fs/semaphore/sem_close.c
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ int nxsem_close(FAR sem_t *sem)
 {
   FAR struct nsem_inode_s *nsem;
   struct inode *inode;
-  int ret;
 
   DEBUGASSERT(sem);
 
@@ -81,34 +80,13 @@ int nxsem_close(FAR sem_t *sem)
   DEBUGASSERT(nsem->ns_inode);
   inode = nsem->ns_inode;
 
-  /* Decrement the reference count on the inode */
-
-  do
-    {
-      ret = inode_lock();
-
-      /* The only error that is expected is due to thread cancellation.
-       * At this point, we must continue to free the semaphore anyway.
-       */
-
-      DEBUGASSERT(ret == OK || ret == -ECANCELED);
-    }
-  while (ret < 0);
-
-  if (inode->i_crefs > 0)
-    {
-      inode->i_crefs--;
-    }
-
   /* If the semaphore was previously unlinked and the reference count has
    * decremented to zero, then release the semaphore and delete the inode
    * now.
    */
 
-  if (inode->i_crefs <= 0)
+  if (atomic_fetch_sub(&inode->i_crefs, 1) <= 1)
     {
-      /* Destroy the semaphore and free the container */
-
       nxsem_destroy(&nsem->ns_sem);
       group_free(NULL, nsem);
 
@@ -116,16 +94,13 @@ int nxsem_close(FAR sem_t *sem)
        * unlinked, then the peer pointer should be NULL.
        */
 
-      inode_unlock();
 #ifdef CONFIG_FS_NOTIFY
       notify_close2(inode);
 #endif
       DEBUGASSERT(inode->i_peer == NULL);
       inode_free(inode);
-      return OK;
     }
 
-  inode_unlock();
   return OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/semaphore/sem_open.c b/fs/semaphore/sem_open.c
index 03232b6b6c..406244b31d 100644
--- a/fs/semaphore/sem_open.c
+++ b/fs/semaphore/sem_open.c
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ int nxsem_open(FAR sem_t **sem, FAR const char *name, int oflags, ...)
       /* Initialize the inode */
 
       INODE_SET_NAMEDSEM(inode);
-      inode->i_crefs++;
+      atomic_fetch_add(&inode->i_crefs, 1);
 
       /* Initialize the semaphore */
 
diff --git a/fs/shm/shm_open.c b/fs/shm/shm_open.c
index 55ae338fba..cf980497e7 100644
--- a/fs/shm/shm_open.c
+++ b/fs/shm/shm_open.c
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ static int file_shm_open(FAR struct file *shm, FAR const char *name,
       INODE_SET_SHM(inode);
       inode->u.i_ops = &g_shmfs_operations;
       inode->i_private = NULL;
-      inode->i_crefs++;
+      atomic_fetch_add(&inode->i_crefs, 1);
     }
 
   /* Associate the inode with a file structure */
diff --git a/fs/shm/shmfs.c b/fs/shm/shmfs.c
index 48e54e41db..cf826302c5 100644
--- a/fs/shm/shmfs.c
+++ b/fs/shm/shmfs.c
@@ -185,21 +185,13 @@ static int shmfs_release(FAR struct inode *inode)
    * The inode is released after this call, hence checking if i_crefs <= 1.
    */
 
-  int ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret >= 0)
+  if (inode->i_parent == NULL && atomic_load(&inode->i_crefs) <= 1)
     {
-      if (inode->i_parent == NULL &&
-          inode->i_crefs <= 1)
-        {
-          shmfs_free_object(inode->i_private);
-          inode->i_private = NULL;
-          ret = OK;
-        }
-
-      inode_unlock();
+      shmfs_free_object(inode->i_private);
+      inode->i_private = NULL;
     }
 
-  return ret;
+  return OK;
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************
@@ -267,20 +259,13 @@ static int shmfs_truncate(FAR struct file *filep, off_t length)
 #ifndef CONFIG_DISABLE_PSEUDOFS_OPERATIONS
 static int shmfs_unlink(FAR struct inode *inode)
 {
-  int ret = inode_lock();
-
-  if (ret >= 0)
+  if (atomic_load(&inode->i_crefs) <= 1)
     {
-      if (inode->i_crefs <= 1)
-        {
-          shmfs_free_object(inode->i_private);
-          inode->i_private = NULL;
-        }
-
-      inode_unlock();
+      shmfs_free_object(inode->i_private);
+      inode->i_private = NULL;
     }
 
-  return ret;
+  return OK;
 }
 #endif
 
diff --git a/fs/socket/socket.c b/fs/socket/socket.c
index 3675988e7a..47fcf35bfa 100644
--- a/fs/socket/socket.c
+++ b/fs/socket/socket.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ static struct inode g_sock_inode =
   NULL,                   /* i_parent */
   NULL,                   /* i_peer */
   NULL,                   /* i_child */
-  1,                      /* i_crefs */
+  ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(1),     /* i_crefs */
   FSNODEFLAG_TYPE_SOCKET, /* i_flags */
   {
     &g_sock_fileops       /* u */
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_dir.c b/fs/vfs/fs_dir.c
index fc78f619fe..a59a8578fb 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_dir.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_dir.c
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ static struct inode g_dir_inode =
   NULL,
   NULL,
   NULL,
-  1,
+  ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(1),
   0,
   { &g_dir_fileops },
 };
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ static off_t seek_pseudodir(FAR struct file *filep, off_t offset)
     {
       /* Increment the reference count on this next node */
 
-      curr->i_crefs++;
+      atomic_fetch_add(&curr->i_crefs, 1);
     }
 
   inode_unlock();
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ static int read_pseudodir(FAR struct fs_dirent_s *dir,
     {
       /* Increment the reference count on this next node */
 
-      pdir->next->i_crefs++;
+      atomic_fetch_add(&pdir->next->i_crefs, 1);
     }
 
   inode_unlock();
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_epoll.c b/fs/vfs/fs_epoll.c
index cf612b0a0a..f53a002f21 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_epoll.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_epoll.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ static struct inode g_epoll_inode =
   NULL,                   /* i_parent */
   NULL,                   /* i_peer */
   NULL,                   /* i_child */
-  1,                      /* i_crefs */
+  ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(1),     /* i_crefs */
   FSNODEFLAG_TYPE_DRIVER, /* i_flags */
   {
     &g_epoll_ops          /* u */
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_eventfd.c b/fs/vfs/fs_eventfd.c
index d89abf1ded..5bbd2286ed 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_eventfd.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_eventfd.c
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ static struct inode g_eventfd_inode =
   NULL,                   /* i_parent */
   NULL,                   /* i_peer */
   NULL,                   /* i_child */
-  1,                      /* i_crefs */
+  ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(1),     /* i_crefs */
   FSNODEFLAG_TYPE_DRIVER, /* i_flags */
   {
     &g_eventfd_fops       /* u */
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_pseudofile.c b/fs/vfs/fs_pseudofile.c
index 23890ef0bf..c600fab724 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_pseudofile.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_pseudofile.c
@@ -353,24 +353,18 @@ static int pseudofile_munmap(FAR struct task_group_s *group,
    * The inode is released after this call, hence checking if i_crefs <= 1.
    */
 
-  int ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret >= 0)
+  if (inode->i_parent == NULL &&
+      atomic_load(&inode->i_crefs) <= 1)
     {
-      if (inode->i_parent == NULL &&
-          inode->i_crefs <= 1)
+      /* Delete the inode metadata */
+
+      if (inode->i_private)
         {
-          /* Delete the inode metadata */
-
-          if (inode->i_private)
-            {
-              fs_heap_free(inode->i_private);
-            }
-
-          inode->i_private = NULL;
-          ret = OK;
+          fs_heap_free(inode->i_private);
         }
 
-      inode_unlock();
+      inode->i_private = NULL;
+      ret = OK;
     }
 
   /* Unkeep the inode when unmapped, decrease refcount */
@@ -501,7 +495,6 @@ int pseudofile_create(FAR struct inode **node, FAR const char *path,
       goto reserve_err;
     }
 
-  (*node)->i_crefs = 0;
   (*node)->i_flags = 1;
   (*node)->u.i_ops = &g_pseudofile_ops;
   (*node)->i_private = pf;
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_signalfd.c b/fs/vfs/fs_signalfd.c
index 64f9cd61b3..cdd006ca1a 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_signalfd.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_signalfd.c
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ static struct inode g_signalfd_inode =
   NULL,                   /* i_parent */
   NULL,                   /* i_peer */
   NULL,                   /* i_child */
-  1,                      /* i_crefs */
+  ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(1),     /* i_crefs */
   FSNODEFLAG_TYPE_DRIVER, /* i_flags */
   {
     &g_signalfd_fileops   /* u */
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_timerfd.c b/fs/vfs/fs_timerfd.c
index 3b550d16be..a2b939ef57 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_timerfd.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_timerfd.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ static struct inode g_timerfd_inode =
   NULL,                   /* i_parent */
   NULL,                   /* i_peer */
   NULL,                   /* i_child */
-  1,                      /* i_crefs */
+  ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(1),     /* i_crefs */
   FSNODEFLAG_TYPE_DRIVER, /* i_flags */
   {
     &g_timerfd_fops       /* u */
diff --git a/include/nuttx/fs/fs.h b/include/nuttx/fs/fs.h
index 9a85594ff7..3787879d23 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/fs/fs.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/fs/fs.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include <time.h>
 #include <dirent.h>
 
+#include <nuttx/atomic.h>
 #include <nuttx/mutex.h>
 #include <nuttx/semaphore.h>
 #include <nuttx/mm/map.h>
@@ -410,7 +411,7 @@ struct inode
   FAR struct inode *i_parent;   /* Link to parent level inode */
   FAR struct inode *i_peer;     /* Link to same level inode */
   FAR struct inode *i_child;    /* Link to lower level inode */
-  int16_t           i_crefs;    /* References to inode */
+  atomic_short      i_crefs;    /* References to inode */
   uint16_t          i_flags;    /* Flags for inode */
   union inode_ops_u u;          /* Inode operations */
   ino_t             i_ino;      /* Inode serial number */