diff --git a/fs/autofs/root.c b/fs/autofs/root.c
index 9cac08d..54ad707 100644
--- a/fs/autofs/root.c
+++ b/fs/autofs/root.c
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@
 
 	dentry->d_time = (unsigned long)(struct autofs_dir_ent *)NULL;
 	autofs_hash_delete(ent);
-	dir->i_nlink--;
+	drop_nlink(dir);
 	d_drop(dentry);
 	unlock_kernel();