diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/virtio/virtgpu_drv.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/virtio/virtgpu_drv.h
index 65605e207bbe8..59182975ce16c 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/virtio/virtgpu_drv.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/virtio/virtgpu_drv.h
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ int virtgpu_gem_prime_mmap(struct drm_gem_object *obj,
 static inline struct virtio_gpu_object*
 virtio_gpu_object_ref(struct virtio_gpu_object *bo)
 {
-	ttm_bo_reference(&bo->tbo);
+	ttm_bo_get(&bo->tbo);
 	return bo;
 }