diff --git a/sys/dev/vnic/nicvf_queues.c b/sys/dev/vnic/nicvf_queues.c
index 13ea636d001..337921de490 100644
--- a/sys/dev/vnic/nicvf_queues.c
+++ b/sys/dev/vnic/nicvf_queues.c
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/proc.h>
 #include <sys/sockio.h>
 #include <sys/socket.h>
-#include <sys/stdatomic.h>
 #include <sys/cpuset.h>
 #include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/mutex.h>
@@ -1048,7 +1047,7 @@ nicvf_init_snd_queue(struct nicvf *nic, struct snd_queue *sq, int q_len,
 
 	sq->desc = sq->dmem.base;
 	sq->head = sq->tail = 0;
-	atomic_store_rel_int(&sq->free_cnt, q_len - 1);
+	sq->free_cnt = q_len - 1;
 	sq->thresh = SND_QUEUE_THRESH;
 	sq->idx = qidx;
 	sq->nic = nic;
@@ -1640,7 +1639,7 @@ nicvf_get_sq_desc(struct snd_queue *sq, int desc_cnt)
 	int qentry;
 
 	qentry = sq->tail;
-	atomic_subtract_int(&sq->free_cnt, desc_cnt);
+	sq->free_cnt -= desc_cnt;
 	sq->tail += desc_cnt;
 	sq->tail &= (sq->dmem.q_len - 1);
 
@@ -1652,7 +1651,7 @@ static void
 nicvf_put_sq_desc(struct snd_queue *sq, int desc_cnt)
 {
 
-	atomic_add_int(&sq->free_cnt, desc_cnt);
+	sq->free_cnt += desc_cnt;
 	sq->head += desc_cnt;
 	sq->head &= (sq->dmem.q_len - 1);
 }