diff --git a/glib/grefcount.c b/glib/grefcount.c
index 37085316b..7cb12fc46 100644
--- a/glib/grefcount.c
+++ b/glib/grefcount.c
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ gboolean
  * g_atomic_ref_count_init:
  * @arc: the address of an atomic reference count variable
  *
- * Atomically initializes a reference count variable.
+ * Initializes a reference count variable.
  *
  * Since: 2.58
  */
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ void
    * Acquiring a reference moves us towards MAXINT, and releasing a
    * reference moves us towards 0.
    */
-  g_atomic_int_set (arc, 1);
+  *arc = 1;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/glib/grefcount.h b/glib/grefcount.h
index b6eced1b7..599dac978 100644
--- a/glib/grefcount.h
+++ b/glib/grefcount.h
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ gboolean        g_atomic_ref_count_compare      (gatomicrefcount *arc,
   (G_GNUC_EXTENSION ({ \
     G_STATIC_ASSERT (sizeof *(rc) == sizeof (gatomicrefcount)); \
     (void) (0 ? *(rc) ^ *(rc) : 1); \
-    g_atomic_int_set ((rc), 1); \
+    *(rc) = 1; \
   }))
 
 # define g_atomic_ref_count_inc(rc) \