diff --git a/include/kernel/atomic.h b/include/kernel/atomic.h
index 0230c99..76e5854 100644
--- a/include/kernel/atomic.h
+++ b/include/kernel/atomic.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 
-typedef int64_t atomic_t;
+typedef int32_t atomic_t;
 
 /* load and return the value pointed to by `v` */
 static inline atomic_t atomic_load(atomic_t *v)