diff --git a/lib/VMCore/Attributes.cpp b/lib/VMCore/Attributes.cpp
index c9240e534c7..37a217fc8c5 100644
--- a/lib/VMCore/Attributes.cpp
+++ b/lib/VMCore/Attributes.cpp
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ public:
   }
   void DropRef() {
     sys::SmartScopedLock<true> Lock(*ALMutex);
-    sys::cas_flag old = RefCount++;
-    if (old == 1)
+    sys::cas_flag new_val = RefCount--;
+    if (new_val == 0)
       delete this;
   }