diff --git a/gobject/gobject.h b/gobject/gobject.h
index 7f55e1976..a84c183f8 100644
--- a/gobject/gobject.h
+++ b/gobject/gobject.h
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ struct  _GObject
   GTypeInstance  g_type_instance;
   
   /*< private >*/
-  volatile guint ref_count;
+  guint          ref_count;  /* (atomic) */
   GData         *qdata;
 };
 /**