diff --git a/src/vulkan/runtime/vk_descriptor_set_layout.h b/src/vulkan/runtime/vk_descriptor_set_layout.h
index 75476dfb6a4..e30c339d48a 100644
--- a/src/vulkan/runtime/vk_descriptor_set_layout.h
+++ b/src/vulkan/runtime/vk_descriptor_set_layout.h
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ void vk_descriptor_set_layout_destroy(struct vk_device *device,
 static inline struct vk_descriptor_set_layout *
 vk_descriptor_set_layout_ref(struct vk_descriptor_set_layout *layout)
 {
-   assert(layout && layout->ref_cnt >= 1);
+   assert(layout && p_atomic_read(&layout->ref_cnt) >= 1);
    p_atomic_inc(&layout->ref_cnt);
    return layout;
 }
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ static inline void
 vk_descriptor_set_layout_unref(struct vk_device *device,
                                struct vk_descriptor_set_layout *layout)
 {
-   assert(layout && layout->ref_cnt >= 1);
+   assert(layout && p_atomic_read(&layout->ref_cnt) >= 1);
    if (p_atomic_dec_zero(&layout->ref_cnt))
       layout->destroy(device, layout);
 }