diff --git a/components/pthreads/pthread.h b/components/pthreads/pthread.h
index fa56219224..6a87c026f6 100644
--- a/components/pthreads/pthread.h
+++ b/components/pthreads/pthread.h
@@ -104,9 +104,9 @@ struct pthread_rwlock
 	pthread_cond_t       rw_condreaders; 	/* for reader threads waiting */
 	pthread_cond_t       rw_condwriters; 	/* for writer threads waiting */
 
-	int rw_nwaitreaders;	/* the number waiting */
-	int rw_nwaitwriters;	/* the number waiting */
-	int rw_refcount;
+	int rw_nwaitreaders;	/* the number of reader threads waiting */
+	int rw_nwaitwriters;	/* the number of writer threads waiting */
+	int rw_refcount;	/* 0: unlocked, -1: locked by writer, > 0 locked by n readers */
 };
 typedef struct pthread_rwlock pthread_rwlock_t;
 
diff --git a/components/pthreads/pthread_rwlock.c b/components/pthreads/pthread_rwlock.c
index 3db0ecc662..b694cb09ff 100644
--- a/components/pthreads/pthread_rwlock.c
+++ b/components/pthreads/pthread_rwlock.c
@@ -112,9 +112,11 @@ int pthread_rwlock_rdlock (pthread_rwlock_t *rwlock)
 	while (rwlock->rw_refcount < 0 || rwlock->rw_nwaitwriters > 0)
 	{
 		rwlock->rw_nwaitreaders++;
+		/* rw_mutex will be released when waiting for rw_condreaders */
 		result = pthread_cond_wait(&rwlock->rw_condreaders, &rwlock->rw_mutex);
+		/* rw_mutex should have been taken again when returned from waiting */
 		rwlock->rw_nwaitreaders--;
-		if (result != 0)
+		if (result != 0) /* wait error */
 			break;
 	}
 
@@ -160,7 +162,9 @@ int pthread_rwlock_timedrdlock (pthread_rwlock_t * rwlock, const struct timespec
 	while (rwlock->rw_refcount < 0 || rwlock->rw_nwaitwriters > 0)
 	{
 		rwlock->rw_nwaitreaders++;
+		/* rw_mutex will be released when waiting for rw_condreaders */
 		result = pthread_cond_timedwait(&rwlock->rw_condreaders, &rwlock->rw_mutex, abstime);
+		/* rw_mutex should have been taken again when returned from waiting */
 		rwlock->rw_nwaitreaders--;
 		if (result != 0)
 			break;
@@ -187,7 +191,9 @@ int pthread_rwlock_timedwrlock (pthread_rwlock_t *rwlock, const struct timespec
 	while (rwlock->rw_refcount != 0)
 	{
 		rwlock->rw_nwaitwriters++;
+		/* rw_mutex will be released when waiting for rw_condwriters */
 		result = pthread_cond_timedwait(&rwlock->rw_condwriters, &rwlock->rw_mutex, abstime);
+		/* rw_mutex should have been taken again when returned from waiting */
 		rwlock->rw_nwaitwriters--;
 		
 		if (result != 0) break;
@@ -233,7 +239,7 @@ int pthread_rwlock_unlock (pthread_rwlock_t *rwlock)
 	if (rwlock->rw_refcount > 0)
 		rwlock->rw_refcount--;              /* releasing a reader */
 	else if (rwlock->rw_refcount == -1)
-		rwlock->rw_refcount = 0;            /* releasing a reader */
+		rwlock->rw_refcount = 0;            /* releasing a writer */
 
 	/* give preference to waiting writers over waiting readers */
 	if (rwlock->rw_nwaitwriters > 0)
@@ -264,7 +270,9 @@ int pthread_rwlock_wrlock (pthread_rwlock_t *rwlock)
 	while (rwlock->rw_refcount != 0)
 	{
 		rwlock->rw_nwaitwriters++;
+		/* rw_mutex will be released when waiting for rw_condwriters */
 		result = pthread_cond_wait(&rwlock->rw_condwriters, &rwlock->rw_mutex);
+		/* rw_mutex should have been taken again when returned from waiting */
 		rwlock->rw_nwaitwriters--;
 		
 		if (result != 0) break;