diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
index 156ac8d0418b..0bbcbf398169 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
@@ -238,7 +238,9 @@ void rcu_softirq_qs(void)
 
 /*
  * Record entry into an extended quiescent state.  This is only to be
- * called when not already in an extended quiescent state.
+ * called when not already in an extended quiescent state, that is,
+ * RCU is watching prior to the call to this function and is no longer
+ * watching upon return.
  */
 static void rcu_dynticks_eqs_enter(void)
 {
@@ -251,7 +253,7 @@ static void rcu_dynticks_eqs_enter(void)
 	 * next idle sojourn.
 	 */
 	seq = atomic_add_return(RCU_DYNTICK_CTRL_CTR, &rdp->dynticks);
-	/* Better be in an extended quiescent state! */
+	// RCU is no longer watching.  Better be in extended quiescent state!
 	WARN_ON_ONCE(IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_EQS_DEBUG) &&
 		     (seq & RCU_DYNTICK_CTRL_CTR));
 	/* Better not have special action (TLB flush) pending! */
@@ -261,7 +263,8 @@ static void rcu_dynticks_eqs_enter(void)
 
 /*
  * Record exit from an extended quiescent state.  This is only to be
- * called from an extended quiescent state.
+ * called from an extended quiescent state, that is, RCU is not watching
+ * prior to the call to this function and is watching upon return.
  */
 static void rcu_dynticks_eqs_exit(void)
 {
@@ -274,6 +277,7 @@ static void rcu_dynticks_eqs_exit(void)
 	 * critical section.
 	 */
 	seq = atomic_add_return(RCU_DYNTICK_CTRL_CTR, &rdp->dynticks);
+	// RCU is now watching.  Better not be in an extended quiescent state!
 	WARN_ON_ONCE(IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_EQS_DEBUG) &&
 		     !(seq & RCU_DYNTICK_CTRL_CTR));
 	if (seq & RCU_DYNTICK_CTRL_MASK) {
@@ -584,6 +588,7 @@ static void rcu_eqs_enter(bool user)
 	WARN_ON_ONCE(IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_EQS_DEBUG) &&
 		     rdp->dynticks_nesting == 0);
 	if (rdp->dynticks_nesting != 1) {
+		// RCU will still be watching, so just do accounting and leave.
 		rdp->dynticks_nesting--;
 		return;
 	}
@@ -596,7 +601,9 @@ static void rcu_eqs_enter(bool user)
 	rcu_prepare_for_idle();
 	rcu_preempt_deferred_qs(current);
 	WRITE_ONCE(rdp->dynticks_nesting, 0); /* Avoid irq-access tearing. */
+	// RCU is watching here ...
 	rcu_dynticks_eqs_enter();
+	// ... but is no longer watching here.
 	rcu_dynticks_task_enter();
 }
 
@@ -676,7 +683,9 @@ static __always_inline void rcu_nmi_exit_common(bool irq)
 	if (irq)
 		rcu_prepare_for_idle();
 
+	// RCU is watching here ...
 	rcu_dynticks_eqs_enter();
+	// ... but is no longer watching here.
 
 	if (irq)
 		rcu_dynticks_task_enter();
@@ -751,11 +760,14 @@ static void rcu_eqs_exit(bool user)
 	oldval = rdp->dynticks_nesting;
 	WARN_ON_ONCE(IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_EQS_DEBUG) && oldval < 0);
 	if (oldval) {
+		// RCU was already watching, so just do accounting and leave.
 		rdp->dynticks_nesting++;
 		return;
 	}
 	rcu_dynticks_task_exit();
+	// RCU is not watching here ...
 	rcu_dynticks_eqs_exit();
+	// ... but is watching here.
 	rcu_cleanup_after_idle();
 	trace_rcu_dyntick(TPS("End"), rdp->dynticks_nesting, 1, atomic_read(&rdp->dynticks));
 	WARN_ON_ONCE(IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_RCU_EQS_DEBUG) && !user && !is_idle_task(current));
@@ -832,7 +844,9 @@ static __always_inline void rcu_nmi_enter_common(bool irq)
 		if (irq)
 			rcu_dynticks_task_exit();
 
+		// RCU is not watching here ...
 		rcu_dynticks_eqs_exit();
+		// ... but is watching here.
 
 		if (irq)
 			rcu_cleanup_after_idle();
@@ -842,9 +856,16 @@ static __always_inline void rcu_nmi_enter_common(bool irq)
 		   rdp->dynticks_nmi_nesting == DYNTICK_IRQ_NONIDLE &&
 		   READ_ONCE(rdp->rcu_urgent_qs) &&
 		   !READ_ONCE(rdp->rcu_forced_tick)) {
+		// We get here only if we had already exited the extended
+		// quiescent state and this was an interrupt (not an NMI).
+		// Therefore, (1) RCU is already watching and (2) The fact
+		// that we are in an interrupt handler and that the rcu_node
+		// lock is an irq-disabled lock prevents self-deadlock.
+		// So we can safely recheck under the lock.
 		raw_spin_lock_rcu_node(rdp->mynode);
-		// Recheck under lock.
 		if (rdp->rcu_urgent_qs && !rdp->rcu_forced_tick) {
+			// A nohz_full CPU is in the kernel and RCU
+			// needs a quiescent state.  Turn on the tick!
 			WRITE_ONCE(rdp->rcu_forced_tick, true);
 			tick_dep_set_cpu(rdp->cpu, TICK_DEP_BIT_RCU);
 		}