diff --git a/include/linux/compiler.h b/include/linux/compiler.h
index c8bd2daf95ec51e0f42ad05e6b8c13be1300ce16..8322141ee480c802ee6919d0f13a86218e45bfc4 100644
--- a/include/linux/compiler.h
+++ b/include/linux/compiler.h
@@ -190,7 +190,9 @@ extern void __chk_io_ptr(const volatile void __iomem *);
  * ACCESS_ONCE() in different C statements.
  *
  * This macro does absolutely -nothing- to prevent the CPU from reordering,
- * merging, or refetching absolutely anything at any time.
+ * merging, or refetching absolutely anything at any time.  Its main intended
+ * use is to mediate communication between process-level code and irq/NMI
+ * handlers, all running on the same CPU.
  */
 #define ACCESS_ONCE(x) (*(volatile typeof(x) *)&(x))
 
diff --git a/kernel/rcupreempt.c b/kernel/rcupreempt.c
index 27827931ca0dd6ca905040955616c970b2e7539d..ca4bbbe04aa4db9d150a503c9025dbe83e0d62a3 100644
--- a/kernel/rcupreempt.c
+++ b/kernel/rcupreempt.c
@@ -58,14 +58,6 @@
 #include <linux/cpumask.h>
 #include <linux/rcupreempt_trace.h>
 
-/*
- * Macro that prevents the compiler from reordering accesses, but does
- * absolutely -nothing- to prevent CPUs from reordering.  This is used
- * only to mediate communication between mainline code and hardware
- * interrupt and NMI handlers.
- */
-#define ACCESS_ONCE(x) (*(volatile typeof(x) *)&(x))
-
 /*
  * PREEMPT_RCU data structures.
  */