diff --git a/drivers/mtd/maps/vmu-flash.c b/drivers/mtd/maps/vmu-flash.c
index a7ec947a3ebb..53019d313db7 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/maps/vmu-flash.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/maps/vmu-flash.c
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ static int vmu_can_unload(struct maple_device *mdev)
 	card = maple_get_drvdata(mdev);
 	for (x = 0; x < card->partitions; x++) {
 		mtd = &((card->mtd)[x]);
-		if (mtd->usecount > 0)
+		if (kref_read(&mtd->refcnt))
 			return 0;
 	}
 	return 1;