diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h b/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
index 2d603771c7dc..a32494c4b6f6 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
@@ -393,8 +393,9 @@ void __rcu_read_unlock(void)
 {
 	struct task_struct *t = current;
 
+	barrier();  // critical section before exit code.
 	if (rcu_preempt_read_exit() == 0) {
-		barrier();  /* critical section before exit code. */
+		barrier();  // critical-section exit before .s check.
 		if (unlikely(READ_ONCE(t->rcu_read_unlock_special.s)))
 			rcu_read_unlock_special(t);
 	}