diff --git a/src/IOThread.h b/src/IOThread.h
index fd8c1d1..eb4e94d 100644
--- a/src/IOThread.h
+++ b/src/IOThread.h
@@ -21,21 +21,27 @@ struct map_string_less : public std::binary_function<std::string,std::string,boo
 
 class ReferenceCounter {
 public:
-    mutable std::mutex m_mutex;
     
     void setRefCount(int rc) {
-        refCount.store(rc);
+        std::lock_guard < std::recursive_mutex > lock(m_mutex);
+        refCount = rc;
     }
     
     void decRefCount() {
-        refCount.store(refCount.load()-1);
+        std::lock_guard < std::recursive_mutex > lock(m_mutex);
+        refCount--;
     }
     
     int getRefCount() {
-        return refCount.load();
+        std::lock_guard < std::recursive_mutex > lock(m_mutex);
+        return refCount;
     }
 protected:
-    std::atomic_int refCount;
+    //this is a basic mutex for all ReferenceCounter derivatives operations INCLUDING the counter itself for consistency !
+   mutable std::recursive_mutex m_mutex;
+
+private:
+   int refCount;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/audio/AudioThread.h b/src/audio/AudioThread.h
index 5712288..57193f5 100644
--- a/src/audio/AudioThread.h
+++ b/src/audio/AudioThread.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public:
     }
 
     ~AudioThreadInput() {
-        std::lock_guard < std::mutex > lock(m_mutex);
+        std::lock_guard < std::recursive_mutex > lock(m_mutex);
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/demod/DemodDefs.h b/src/demod/DemodDefs.h
index b7d78a3..8dc5163 100644
--- a/src/demod/DemodDefs.h
+++ b/src/demod/DemodDefs.h
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ public:
     }
 
     ~DemodulatorThreadPostIQData() {
-        std::lock_guard < std::mutex > lock(m_mutex);
+        std::lock_guard < std::recursive_mutex > lock(m_mutex);
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/modules/modem/Modem.h b/src/modules/modem/Modem.h
index 0172ea5..5a1c74e 100644
--- a/src/modules/modem/Modem.h
+++ b/src/modules/modem/Modem.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public:
     }
     
     ~ModemIQData() {
-        std::lock_guard < std::mutex > lock(m_mutex);
+        std::lock_guard < std::recursive_mutex > lock(m_mutex);
     }
 };