diff --git a/kernel/workqueue.c b/kernel/workqueue.c
index 930c2390b77e..11869faa6819 100644
--- a/kernel/workqueue.c
+++ b/kernel/workqueue.c
@@ -768,7 +768,11 @@ static inline void worker_clr_flags(struct worker *worker, unsigned int flags)
 
 	worker->flags &= ~flags;
 
-	/* if transitioning out of NOT_RUNNING, increment nr_running */
+	/*
+	 * If transitioning out of NOT_RUNNING, increment nr_running.  Note
+	 * that the nested NOT_RUNNING is not a noop.  NOT_RUNNING is mask
+	 * of multiple flags, not a single flag.
+	 */
 	if ((flags & WORKER_NOT_RUNNING) && (oflags & WORKER_NOT_RUNNING))
 		if (!(worker->flags & WORKER_NOT_RUNNING))
 			atomic_inc(get_gcwq_nr_running(gcwq->cpu));