diff --git a/bin/named/controlconf.c b/bin/named/controlconf.c
index a84af436fe..eff48e0af7 100644
--- a/bin/named/controlconf.c
+++ b/bin/named/controlconf.c
@@ -173,8 +173,6 @@ free_listener(controllistener_t *listener) {
 	INSIST(listener->exiting);
 	INSIST(ISC_LIST_EMPTY(listener->connections));
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&listener->references);
-
 	REQUIRE(listener->sock == NULL);
 
 	free_controlkeylist(&listener->keys, listener->mctx);
diff --git a/lib/dns/adb.c b/lib/dns/adb.c
index beab25b57d..c47b2219aa 100644
--- a/lib/dns/adb.c
+++ b/lib/dns/adb.c
@@ -1179,7 +1179,6 @@ destroy_adbentry(dns_adbentry_t *entry) {
 	}
 
 	isc_mutex_destroy(&entry->lock);
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&entry->references);
 	isc_mem_put(adb->mctx, entry, sizeof(*entry));
 
 	dec_adbstats(adb, dns_adbstats_entriescnt);
@@ -1963,7 +1962,6 @@ destroy(dns_adb_t *adb) {
 	isc_mem_detach(&adb->hmctx);
 
 	isc_mutex_destroy(&adb->lock);
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&adb->references);
 
 	isc_stats_detach(&adb->stats);
 	dns_resolver_detach(&adb->res);
diff --git a/lib/dns/catz.c b/lib/dns/catz.c
index 26be1ec9e1..92149db468 100644
--- a/lib/dns/catz.c
+++ b/lib/dns/catz.c
@@ -1020,7 +1020,6 @@ dns__catz_zone_destroy(dns_catz_zone_t *catz) {
 	dns_catz_options_free(&catz->zoneoptions, mctx);
 
 	dns_catz_zones_detach(&catz->catzs);
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&catz->references);
 
 	isc_mem_put(mctx, catz, sizeof(*catz));
 }
@@ -1032,7 +1031,6 @@ dns__catz_zones_destroy(dns_catz_zones_t *catzs) {
 
 	catzs->magic = 0;
 	isc_mutex_destroy(&catzs->lock);
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&catzs->references);
 
 	isc_mem_putanddetach(&catzs->mctx, catzs, sizeof(*catzs));
 }
diff --git a/lib/dns/dispatch.c b/lib/dns/dispatch.c
index 0b82990a1a..9871c15c34 100644
--- a/lib/dns/dispatch.c
+++ b/lib/dns/dispatch.c
@@ -414,8 +414,6 @@ dispentry_destroy(dns_dispentry_t *resp) {
 	INSIST(disp->requests > 0);
 	disp->requests--;
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&resp->references);
-
 	resp->magic = 0;
 
 	INSIST(!ISC_LINK_LINKED(resp, plink));
@@ -1363,7 +1361,6 @@ dispatch_destroy(dns_dispatch_t *disp) {
 	dns_dispatchmgr_t *mgr = disp->mgr;
 	uint32_t tid = isc_tid();
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&disp->references);
 	disp->magic = 0;
 
 	if (disp->socktype == isc_socktype_tcp) {
diff --git a/lib/dns/keytable.c b/lib/dns/keytable.c
index 99ffe5623a..10614431b3 100644
--- a/lib/dns/keytable.c
+++ b/lib/dns/keytable.c
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ static void
 destroy_keynode(dns_keynode_t *knode) {
 	dns_rdata_t *rdata = NULL;
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&knode->references);
 	isc_rwlock_destroy(&knode->rwlock);
 	if (knode->dslist != NULL) {
 		for (rdata = ISC_LIST_HEAD(knode->dslist->rdata); rdata != NULL;
@@ -163,7 +162,6 @@ destroy_keytable(dns_keytable_t *keytable) {
 	dns_qpread_destroy(keytable->table, &qpr);
 
 	dns_qpmulti_destroy(&keytable->table);
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&keytable->references);
 
 	isc_mem_putanddetach(&keytable->mctx, keytable, sizeof(*keytable));
 }
diff --git a/lib/dns/nametree.c b/lib/dns/nametree.c
index ec297ca6f2..08140371c0 100644
--- a/lib/dns/nametree.c
+++ b/lib/dns/nametree.c
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ static dns_qpmethods_t qpmethods = {
 
 static void
 destroy_ntnode(dns_ntnode_t *node) {
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&node->references);
 	if (node->bits != NULL) {
 		isc_mem_cput(node->mctx, node->bits, node->bits[0],
 			     sizeof(char));
@@ -120,7 +119,6 @@ destroy_nametree(dns_nametree_t *nametree) {
 	/* dns_qpread_destroy(nametree->table, &qpr); */
 
 	dns_qpmulti_destroy(&nametree->table);
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&nametree->references);
 
 	isc_mem_putanddetach(&nametree->mctx, nametree, sizeof(*nametree));
 }
diff --git a/lib/dns/nta.c b/lib/dns/nta.c
index 35ee03e8de..6df1a9f5ab 100644
--- a/lib/dns/nta.c
+++ b/lib/dns/nta.c
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ dns__nta_destroy(dns__nta_t *nta) {
 	REQUIRE(nta->timer == NULL);
 
 	nta->magic = 0;
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&nta->references);
 	if (dns_rdataset_isassociated(&nta->rdataset)) {
 		dns_rdataset_disassociate(&nta->rdataset);
 	}
@@ -140,7 +139,6 @@ dns_ntatable_create(dns_view_t *view, isc_loopmgr_t *loopmgr,
 
 static void
 dns__ntatable_destroy(dns_ntatable_t *ntatable) {
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&ntatable->references);
 	ntatable->magic = 0;
 	isc_rwlock_destroy(&ntatable->rwlock);
 	dns_qpmulti_destroy(&ntatable->table);
diff --git a/lib/dns/request.c b/lib/dns/request.c
index 46affed3f1..dc8aaaec64 100644
--- a/lib/dns/request.c
+++ b/lib/dns/request.c
@@ -227,8 +227,6 @@ requestmgr_destroy(dns_requestmgr_t *requestmgr) {
 
 	INSIST(atomic_load(&requestmgr->shuttingdown));
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&requestmgr->references);
-
 	size_t nloops = isc_loopmgr_nloops(requestmgr->loopmgr);
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < nloops; i++) {
 		INSIST(ISC_LIST_EMPTY(requestmgr->requests[i]));
@@ -973,8 +971,6 @@ req_destroy(dns_request_t *request) {
 
 	req_log(ISC_LOG_DEBUG(3), "%s: request %p", __func__, request);
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&request->references);
-
 	/*
 	 * These should have been cleaned up before the
 	 * completion event was sent.
diff --git a/lib/dns/resolver.c b/lib/dns/resolver.c
index f65b7e4a92..700c531eab 100644
--- a/lib/dns/resolver.c
+++ b/lib/dns/resolver.c
@@ -998,8 +998,6 @@ resquery_destroy(resquery_t *query) {
 		dns_dispatch_detach(&query->dispatch);
 	}
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&query->references);
-
 	LOCK(&fctx->lock);
 	atomic_fetch_sub_release(&fctx->nqueries, 1);
 	UNLOCK(&fctx->lock);
@@ -4309,8 +4307,6 @@ fctx_destroy(fetchctx_t *fctx) {
 
 	FCTXTRACE("destroy");
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&fctx->references);
-
 	fctx->magic = 0;
 
 	res = fctx->res;
@@ -9850,7 +9846,6 @@ static void
 dns_resolver__destroy(dns_resolver_t *res) {
 	alternate_t *a = NULL;
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&res->references);
 	REQUIRE(!atomic_load_acquire(&res->priming));
 	REQUIRE(res->primefetch == NULL);
 
diff --git a/lib/dns/rpz.c b/lib/dns/rpz.c
index ee4ed0613a..46dc8ef3a7 100644
--- a/lib/dns/rpz.c
+++ b/lib/dns/rpz.c
@@ -2088,8 +2088,6 @@ static void
 dns__rpz_zones_destroy(dns_rpz_zones_t *rpzs) {
 	REQUIRE(rpzs->shuttingdown);
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&rpzs->references);
-
 	for (dns_rpz_num_t rpz_num = 0; rpz_num < DNS_RPZ_MAX_ZONES; ++rpz_num)
 	{
 		if (rpzs->zones[rpz_num] == NULL) {
diff --git a/lib/dns/tsig.c b/lib/dns/tsig.c
index 8b03b2dba6..b65c0b7baf 100644
--- a/lib/dns/tsig.c
+++ b/lib/dns/tsig.c
@@ -332,7 +332,6 @@ destroyring(dns_tsigkeyring_t *ring) {
 
 	ring->magic = 0;
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&ring->references);
 	isc_rwlock_destroy(&ring->lock);
 	isc_mem_putanddetach(&ring->mctx, ring, sizeof(dns_tsigkeyring_t));
 }
diff --git a/lib/dns/xfrin.c b/lib/dns/xfrin.c
index 22a8991617..3a3da99cfb 100644
--- a/lib/dns/xfrin.c
+++ b/lib/dns/xfrin.c
@@ -1859,7 +1859,6 @@ xfrin_destroy(dns_xfrin_t *xfr) {
 
 	/* Safe-guards */
 	REQUIRE(atomic_load(&xfr->shuttingdown));
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&xfr->references);
 
 	INSIST(xfr->shutdown_result != ISC_R_UNSET);
 
diff --git a/lib/dns/zone.c b/lib/dns/zone.c
index bf49b693b4..82b4157585 100644
--- a/lib/dns/zone.c
+++ b/lib/dns/zone.c
@@ -5601,8 +5601,6 @@ closeversion:
 
 static void
 zone_destroy(dns_zone_t *zone) {
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&zone->references);
-
 	/*
 	 * Stop things being restarted after we cancel them below.
 	 */
diff --git a/lib/isc/include/isc/refcount.h b/lib/isc/include/isc/refcount.h
index 8231233072..8524b04410 100644
--- a/lib/isc/include/isc/refcount.h
+++ b/lib/isc/include/isc/refcount.h
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ ISC_LANG_BEGINDECLS
 
 typedef atomic_uint_fast32_t isc_refcount_t;
 
+#define ISC_REFCOUNT_INITIALIZER(a) (a)
+
 /** \def isc_refcount_init(ref, n)
  *  \brief Initialize the reference counter.
  *  \param[in] ref pointer to reference counter.
@@ -145,6 +147,7 @@ typedef atomic_uint_fast32_t isc_refcount_t;
 		uint_fast32_t refs =                                          \
 			isc_refcount_decrement(&ptr->references) - 1;         \
 		if (refs == 0) {                                              \
+			isc_refcount_destroy(&ptr->references);               \
 			destroy(ptr);                                         \
 		}                                                             \
 		fprintf(stderr,                                               \
@@ -170,6 +173,7 @@ typedef atomic_uint_fast32_t isc_refcount_t;
 		uint_fast32_t refs =                                          \
 			isc_refcount_decrement(&ptr->references) - 1;         \
 		if (refs == 0) {                                              \
+			isc_refcount_destroy(&ptr->references);               \
 			destroy(ptr);                                         \
 		}                                                             \
 		fprintf(stderr,                                               \
@@ -193,6 +197,7 @@ typedef atomic_uint_fast32_t isc_refcount_t;
 	void name##_unref(name##_t *ptr) {                           \
 		REQUIRE(ptr != NULL);                                \
 		if (isc_refcount_decrement(&ptr->references) == 1) { \
+			isc_refcount_destroy(&ptr->references);      \
 			destroy(ptr);                                \
 		}                                                    \
 	}                                                            \
diff --git a/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c b/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c
index de49192474..df9b687c7c 100644
--- a/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c
+++ b/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c
@@ -880,8 +880,6 @@ isc_nmhandle_is_stream(isc_nmhandle_t *handle) {
 
 static void
 nmhandle_free(isc_nmsocket_t *sock, isc_nmhandle_t *handle) {
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&handle->references);
-
 	handle->magic = 0;
 
 	if (handle->dofree != NULL) {
diff --git a/lib/isc/ratelimiter.c b/lib/isc/ratelimiter.c
index a7c5915211..9d59ffc43d 100644
--- a/lib/isc/ratelimiter.c
+++ b/lib/isc/ratelimiter.c
@@ -313,8 +313,6 @@ isc_ratelimiter_shutdown(isc_ratelimiter_t *restrict rl) {
 
 static void
 ratelimiter_destroy(isc_ratelimiter_t *restrict rl) {
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&rl->references);
-
 	LOCK(&rl->lock);
 	REQUIRE(rl->state == isc_ratelimiter_shuttingdown);
 	UNLOCK(&rl->lock);
diff --git a/lib/ns/client.c b/lib/ns/client.c
index 58d5c48624..967b915b22 100644
--- a/lib/ns/client.c
+++ b/lib/ns/client.c
@@ -2383,8 +2383,6 @@ clientmgr_destroy_cb(void *arg) {
 
 	manager->magic = 0;
 
-	isc_refcount_destroy(&manager->references);
-
 	isc_loop_detach(&manager->loop);
 
 	dns_aclenv_detach(&manager->aclenv);