diff --git a/src/hb-atomic.hh b/src/hb-atomic.hh
index ebed242b2..14c6fb326 100644
--- a/src/hb-atomic.hh
+++ b/src/hb-atomic.hh
@@ -159,6 +159,9 @@ struct hb_atomic_int_t
   hb_atomic_int_t () = default;
   constexpr hb_atomic_int_t (int v) : v (v) {}
 
+  hb_atomic_int_t& operator = (int v_) { set_relaxed (v_); return *this; }
+  operator int () const { return get_relaxed (); }
+
   void set_relaxed (int v_) { hb_atomic_int_impl_set_relaxed (&v, v_); }
   void set_release (int v_) { hb_atomic_int_impl_set (&v, v_); }
   int get_relaxed () const { return hb_atomic_int_impl_get_relaxed (&v); }
diff --git a/src/hb-bit-set.hh b/src/hb-bit-set.hh
index 4765af67c..a63887efd 100644
--- a/src/hb-bit-set.hh
+++ b/src/hb-bit-set.hh
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ struct hb_bit_set_t
   {
     successful = true;
     population = 0;
-    last_page_lookup.set_relaxed (0);
+    last_page_lookup = 0;
     page_map.init ();
     pages.init ();
   }
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ struct hb_bit_set_t
 
     const auto* page_map_array = page_map.arrayZ;
     unsigned int major = get_major (*codepoint);
-    unsigned int i = last_page_lookup.get_relaxed ();
+    unsigned int i = last_page_lookup;
 
     if (unlikely (i >= page_map.length || page_map_array[i].major != major))
     {
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ struct hb_bit_set_t
       if (pages_array[current.index].next (codepoint))
       {
         *codepoint += current.major * page_t::PAGE_BITS;
-        last_page_lookup.set_relaxed (i);
+        last_page_lookup = i;
         return true;
       }
       i++;
@@ -645,11 +645,11 @@ struct hb_bit_set_t
       if (m != INVALID)
       {
 	*codepoint = current.major * page_t::PAGE_BITS + m;
-        last_page_lookup.set_relaxed (i);
+        last_page_lookup = i;
 	return true;
       }
     }
-    last_page_lookup.set_relaxed (0);
+    last_page_lookup = 0;
     *codepoint = INVALID;
     return false;
   }
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ struct hb_bit_set_t
     {
       const auto* page_map_array = page_map.arrayZ;
       unsigned int major = get_major (codepoint);
-      unsigned int i = last_page_lookup.get_relaxed ();
+      unsigned int i = last_page_lookup;
       if (unlikely (i >= page_map.length || page_map_array[i].major != major))
       {
 	page_map.bfind (major, &i, HB_NOT_FOUND_STORE_CLOSEST);
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@ struct hb_bit_set_t
     {
       const auto* page_map_array = page_map.arrayZ;
       unsigned int major = get_major (codepoint);
-      unsigned int i = last_page_lookup.get_relaxed ();
+      unsigned int i = last_page_lookup;
       if (unlikely (i >= page_map.length || page_map_array[i].major != major))
       {
         page_map.bfind(major, &i, HB_NOT_FOUND_STORE_CLOSEST);
@@ -900,7 +900,7 @@ struct hb_bit_set_t
     /* The extra page_map length is necessary; can't just rely on vector here,
      * since the next check would be tricked because a null page also has
      * major==0, which we can't distinguish from an actualy major==0 page... */
-    unsigned i = last_page_lookup.get_relaxed ();
+    unsigned i = last_page_lookup;
     if (likely (i < page_map.length))
     {
       auto &cached_page = page_map.arrayZ[i];
@@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ struct hb_bit_set_t
       page_map[i] = map;
     }
 
-    last_page_lookup.set_relaxed (i);
+    last_page_lookup = i;
     return &pages[page_map[i].index];
   }
   const page_t *page_for (hb_codepoint_t g) const
@@ -934,7 +934,7 @@ struct hb_bit_set_t
     /* The extra page_map length is necessary; can't just rely on vector here,
      * since the next check would be tricked because a null page also has
      * major==0, which we can't distinguish from an actualy major==0 page... */
-    unsigned i = last_page_lookup.get_relaxed ();
+    unsigned i = last_page_lookup;
     if (likely (i < page_map.length))
     {
       auto &cached_page = page_map.arrayZ[i];
@@ -946,7 +946,7 @@ struct hb_bit_set_t
     if (!page_map.bfind (key, &i))
       return nullptr;
 
-    last_page_lookup.set_relaxed (i);
+    last_page_lookup = i;
     return &pages[page_map[i].index];
   }
   page_t &page_at (unsigned int i) { return pages[page_map[i].index]; }
diff --git a/src/hb-cache.hh b/src/hb-cache.hh
index d6b229ed6..55a80024f 100644
--- a/src/hb-cache.hh
+++ b/src/hb-cache.hh
@@ -45,13 +45,13 @@ struct hb_cache_t
   void clear ()
   {
     for (unsigned i = 0; i < ARRAY_LENGTH (values); i++)
-      values[i].set_relaxed (-1);
+      values[i] = -1;
   }
 
   bool get (unsigned int key, unsigned int *value) const
   {
     unsigned int k = key & ((1u<<cache_bits)-1);
-    unsigned int v = values[k].get_relaxed ();
+    unsigned int v = values[k];
     if ((key_bits + value_bits - cache_bits == 8 * sizeof (hb_atomic_int_t) && v == (unsigned int) -1) ||
 	(v >> value_bits) != (key >> cache_bits))
       return false;
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ struct hb_cache_t
       return false; /* Overflows */
     unsigned int k = key & ((1u<<cache_bits)-1);
     unsigned int v = ((key>>cache_bits)<<value_bits) | value;
-    values[k].set_relaxed (v);
+    values[k] = v;
     return true;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/hb-common.cc b/src/hb-common.cc
index e6512872e..bbb6cd552 100644
--- a/src/hb-common.cc
+++ b/src/hb-common.cc
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ _hb_options_init ()
   }
 
   /* This is idempotent and threadsafe. */
-  _hb_options.set_relaxed (u.i);
+  _hb_options = u.i;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/hb-debug.hh b/src/hb-debug.hh
index 905a46a08..cbe13e521 100644
--- a/src/hb-debug.hh
+++ b/src/hb-debug.hh
@@ -67,12 +67,12 @@ hb_options ()
 #endif
   /* Make a local copy, so we can access bitfield threadsafely. */
   hb_options_union_t u;
-  u.i = _hb_options.get_relaxed ();
+  u.i = _hb_options;
 
   if (unlikely (!u.i))
   {
     _hb_options_init ();
-    u.i = _hb_options.get_relaxed ();
+    u.i = _hb_options;
   }
 
   return u.opts;
diff --git a/src/hb-face.cc b/src/hb-face.cc
index 61adbdd50..2160d6a01 100644
--- a/src/hb-face.cc
+++ b/src/hb-face.cc
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ hb_face_create_for_tables (hb_reference_table_func_t  reference_table_func,
   face->user_data = user_data;
   face->destroy = destroy;
 
-  face->num_glyphs.set_relaxed (-1);
+  face->num_glyphs = -1;
 
   face->data.init0 (face);
   face->table.init0 (face);
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ hb_face_set_upem (hb_face_t    *face,
   if (hb_object_is_immutable (face))
     return;
 
-  face->upem.set_relaxed (upem);
+  face->upem = upem;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ hb_face_set_glyph_count (hb_face_t    *face,
   if (hb_object_is_immutable (face))
     return;
 
-  face->num_glyphs.set_relaxed (glyph_count);
+  face->num_glyphs = glyph_count;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/hb-face.hh b/src/hb-face.hh
index 765f27285..12e10d01e 100644
--- a/src/hb-face.hh
+++ b/src/hb-face.hh
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ struct hb_face_t
 
   unsigned int get_upem () const
   {
-    unsigned int ret = upem.get_relaxed ();
+    unsigned int ret = upem;
     if (unlikely (!ret))
     {
       return load_upem ();
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ struct hb_face_t
 
   unsigned int get_num_glyphs () const
   {
-    unsigned int ret = num_glyphs.get_relaxed ();
+    unsigned int ret = num_glyphs;
     if (unlikely (ret == UINT_MAX))
       return load_num_glyphs ();
     return ret;
diff --git a/src/hb-object.hh b/src/hb-object.hh
index aed3b12c8..8cbf7a8a9 100644
--- a/src/hb-object.hh
+++ b/src/hb-object.hh
@@ -144,14 +144,14 @@ struct hb_reference_count_t
 {
   mutable hb_atomic_int_t ref_count;
 
-  void init (int v = 1) { ref_count.set_relaxed (v); }
-  int get_relaxed () const { return ref_count.get_relaxed (); }
+  void init (int v = 1) { ref_count = v; }
+  int get_relaxed () const { return ref_count; }
   int inc () const { return ref_count.inc (); }
   int dec () const { return ref_count.dec (); }
-  void fini () { ref_count.set_relaxed (-0x0000DEAD); }
+  void fini () { ref_count = -0x0000DEAD; }
 
-  bool is_inert () const { return !ref_count.get_relaxed (); }
-  bool is_valid () const { return ref_count.get_relaxed () > 0; }
+  bool is_inert () const { return !ref_count; }
+  bool is_valid () const { return ref_count > 0; }
 };
 
 
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ template <typename Type>
 static inline void hb_object_init (Type *obj)
 {
   obj->header.ref_count.init ();
-  obj->header.writable.set_relaxed (true);
+  obj->header.writable = true;
   obj->header.user_data.init ();
 }
 template <typename Type>
@@ -244,12 +244,12 @@ static inline bool hb_object_is_valid (const Type *obj)
 template <typename Type>
 static inline bool hb_object_is_immutable (const Type *obj)
 {
-  return !obj->header.writable.get_relaxed ();
+  return !obj->header.writable;
 }
 template <typename Type>
 static inline void hb_object_make_immutable (const Type *obj)
 {
-  obj->header.writable.set_relaxed (false);
+  obj->header.writable = false;
 }
 template <typename Type>
 static inline Type *hb_object_reference (Type *obj)
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-shaper-indic.cc b/src/hb-ot-shaper-indic.cc
index 6eb400ab1..55509c110 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-shaper-indic.cc
+++ b/src/hb-ot-shaper-indic.cc
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ struct indic_shape_plan_t
 {
   bool load_virama_glyph (hb_font_t *font, hb_codepoint_t *pglyph) const
   {
-    hb_codepoint_t glyph = virama_glyph.get_relaxed ();
+    hb_codepoint_t glyph = virama_glyph;
     if (unlikely (glyph == (hb_codepoint_t) -1))
     {
       if (!config->virama || !font->get_nominal_glyph (config->virama, &glyph))
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ struct indic_shape_plan_t
 
       /* Our get_nominal_glyph() function needs a font, so we can't get the virama glyph
        * during shape planning...  Instead, overwrite it here. */
-      virama_glyph.set_relaxed ((int) glyph);
+      virama_glyph = (int) glyph;
     }
 
     *pglyph = glyph;
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ data_create_indic (const hb_ot_shape_plan_t *plan)
 #ifndef HB_NO_UNISCRIBE_BUG_COMPATIBLE
   indic_plan->uniscribe_bug_compatible = hb_options ().uniscribe_bug_compatible;
 #endif
-  indic_plan->virama_glyph.set_relaxed (-1);
+  indic_plan->virama_glyph = -1;
 
   /* Use zero-context would_substitute() matching for new-spec of the main
    * Indic scripts, and scripts with one spec only, but not for old-specs.
@@ -992,7 +992,7 @@ final_reordering_syllable_indic (const hb_ot_shape_plan_t *plan,
    * class of I_Cat(H) is desired but has been lost. */
   /* We don't call load_virama_glyph(), since we know it's already
    * loaded. */
-  hb_codepoint_t virama_glyph = indic_plan->virama_glyph.get_relaxed ();
+  hb_codepoint_t virama_glyph = indic_plan->virama_glyph;
   if (virama_glyph)
   {
     for (unsigned int i = start; i < end; i++)
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-tag.cc b/src/hb-ot-tag.cc
index ceb3bf6df..1b18270cc 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-tag.cc
+++ b/src/hb-ot-tag.cc
@@ -307,12 +307,12 @@ hb_ot_tags_from_language (const char   *lang_str,
     hb_tag_t lang_tag = hb_tag_from_string (lang_str, first_len);
 
     static hb_atomic_int_t last_tag_idx; /* Poor man's cache. */
-    unsigned tag_idx = last_tag_idx.get_relaxed ();
+    unsigned tag_idx = last_tag_idx;
 
     if (likely (tag_idx < ot_languages_len && ot_languages[tag_idx].language == lang_tag) ||
 	hb_sorted_array (ot_languages, ot_languages_len).bfind (lang_tag, &tag_idx))
     {
-      last_tag_idx.set_relaxed (tag_idx);
+      last_tag_idx = tag_idx;
       unsigned int i;
       while (tag_idx != 0 &&
 	     ot_languages[tag_idx].language == ot_languages[tag_idx - 1].language)
diff --git a/src/hb-static.cc b/src/hb-static.cc
index af95615c1..5d4c7cda1 100644
--- a/src/hb-static.cc
+++ b/src/hb-static.cc
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ hb_face_t::load_num_glyphs () const
 
   ret = hb_max (ret, load_num_glyphs_from_maxp (this));
 
-  num_glyphs.set_relaxed (ret);
+  num_glyphs = ret;
   return ret;
 }
 
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ unsigned int
 hb_face_t::load_upem () const
 {
   unsigned int ret = table.head->get_upem ();
-  upem.set_relaxed (ret);
+  upem = ret;
   return ret;
 }