diff --git a/lib/lockref.c b/lib/lockref.c
index d2233de..ecb9a66 100644
--- a/lib/lockref.c
+++ b/lib/lockref.c
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(lockref_get);
 
 /**
- * lockref_get_not_zero - Increments count unless the count is 0
+ * lockref_get_not_zero - Increments count unless the count is 0 or dead
  * @lockref: pointer to lockref structure
  * Return: 1 if count updated successfully or 0 if count was zero
  */
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
 
 	CMPXCHG_LOOP(
 		new.count++;
-		if (!old.count)
+		if (old.count <= 0)
 			return 0;
 	,
 		return 1;
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
 
 	spin_lock(&lockref->lock);
 	retval = 0;
-	if (lockref->count) {
+	if (lockref->count > 0) {
 		lockref->count++;
 		retval = 1;
 	}
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(lockref_get_not_zero);
 
 /**
- * lockref_get_or_lock - Increments count unless the count is 0
+ * lockref_get_or_lock - Increments count unless the count is 0 or dead
  * @lockref: pointer to lockref structure
  * Return: 1 if count updated successfully or 0 if count was zero
  * and we got the lock instead.
@@ -97,14 +97,14 @@
 {
 	CMPXCHG_LOOP(
 		new.count++;
-		if (!old.count)
+		if (old.count <= 0)
 			break;
 	,
 		return 1;
 	);
 
 	spin_lock(&lockref->lock);
-	if (!lockref->count)
+	if (lockref->count <= 0)
 		return 0;
 	lockref->count++;
 	spin_unlock(&lockref->lock);
@@ -113,6 +113,26 @@
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(lockref_get_or_lock);
 
 /**
+ * lockref_put_return - Decrement reference count if possible
+ * @lockref: pointer to lockref structure
+ *
+ * Decrement the reference count and return the new value.
+ * If the lockref was dead or locked, return an error.
+ */
+int lockref_put_return(struct lockref *lockref)
+{
+	CMPXCHG_LOOP(
+		new.count--;
+		if (old.count <= 0)
+			return -1;
+	,
+		return new.count;
+	);
+	return -1;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(lockref_put_return);
+
+/**
  * lockref_put_or_lock - decrements count unless count <= 1 before decrement
  * @lockref: pointer to lockref structure
  * Return: 1 if count updated successfully or 0 if count <= 1 and lock taken
@@ -158,7 +178,7 @@
 
 	CMPXCHG_LOOP(
 		new.count++;
-		if ((int)old.count < 0)
+		if (old.count < 0)
 			return 0;
 	,
 		return 1;
@@ -166,7 +186,7 @@
 
 	spin_lock(&lockref->lock);
 	retval = 0;
-	if ((int) lockref->count >= 0) {
+	if (lockref->count >= 0) {
 		lockref->count++;
 		retval = 1;
 	}