diff --git a/include/nuttx/mutex.h b/include/nuttx/mutex.h
index acf1e2b0c6..3b44cd2733 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/mutex.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/mutex.h
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ int nxmutex_destroy(FAR mutex_t *mutex);
  * Name: nxmutex_is_hold
  *
  * Description:
- *   This function check whether the caller hold the mutex
+ *   This function check whether the calling thread hold the mutex
  *   referenced by 'mutex'.
  *
  * Parameters:
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ bool nxmutex_is_hold(FAR mutex_t *mutex);
  *
  * Description:
  *   This function get the holder of the mutex referenced by 'mutex'.
+ *   Note that this is inherently racy unless the calling thread is
+ *   holding the mutex.
  *
  * Parameters:
  *   mutex - mutex descriptor.
@@ -156,6 +158,8 @@ int nxmutex_get_holder(FAR mutex_t *mutex);
  *
  * Description:
  *   This function get the lock state the mutex referenced by 'mutex'.
+ *   Note that this is inherently racy unless the calling thread is
+ *   holding the mutex.
  *
  * Parameters:
  *   mutex - mutex descriptor.
@@ -444,7 +448,7 @@ int nxrmutex_destroy(FAR rmutex_t *rmutex);
  * Name: nxrmutex_is_hold
  *
  * Description:
- *   This function check whether the caller hold the recursive mutex
+ *   This function check whether the calling thread hold the recursive mutex
  *   referenced by 'rmutex'.
  *
  * Parameters:
@@ -460,7 +464,11 @@ bool nxrmutex_is_hold(FAR rmutex_t *rmutex);
  * Name: nxrmutex_is_recursive
  *
  * Description:
- *   This function check whether the recursive mutex is recursive
+ *   This function check whether the recursive mutex is currently held
+ *   recursively. That is, whether it's locked more than once by the
+ *   current holder.
+ *   Note that this is inherently racy unless the calling thread is
+ *   holding the mutex.
  *
  * Parameters:
  *   rmutex - Recursive mutex descriptor.
@@ -477,6 +485,8 @@ bool nxrmutex_is_recursive(FAR rmutex_t *rmutex);
  *
  * Description:
  *   This function get the holder of the mutex referenced by 'mutex'.
+ *   Note that this is inherently racy unless the calling thread is
+ *   holding the mutex.
  *
  * Parameters:
  *   rmutex - Rmutex descriptor.
@@ -493,6 +503,8 @@ int nxrmutex_get_holder(FAR rmutex_t *rmutex);
  * Description:
  *   This function get the lock state the recursive mutex
  *   referenced by 'rmutex'.
+ *   Note that this is inherently racy unless the calling thread is
+ *   holding the mutex.
  *
  * Parameters:
  *   rmutex - Recursive mutex descriptor.
diff --git a/libs/libc/misc/lib_mutex.c b/libs/libc/misc/lib_mutex.c
index 46e0a255b0..4cf0c2b3d1 100644
--- a/libs/libc/misc/lib_mutex.c
+++ b/libs/libc/misc/lib_mutex.c
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ int nxmutex_destroy(FAR mutex_t *mutex)
  * Name: nxmutex_is_hold
  *
  * Description:
- *   This function check whether the caller hold the mutex
+ *   This function check whether the calling thread hold the mutex
  *   referenced by 'mutex'.
  *
  * Parameters:
@@ -185,6 +185,8 @@ bool nxmutex_is_hold(FAR mutex_t *mutex)
  *
  * Description:
  *   This function get the holder of the mutex referenced by 'mutex'.
+ *   Note that this is inherently racy unless the calling thread is
+ *   holding the mutex.
  *
  * Parameters:
  *   mutex - mutex descriptor.
@@ -203,6 +205,8 @@ int nxmutex_get_holder(FAR mutex_t *mutex)
  *
  * Description:
  *   This function get the lock state the mutex referenced by 'mutex'.
+ *   Note that this is inherently racy unless the calling thread is
+ *   holding the mutex.
  *
  * Parameters:
  *   mutex - mutex descriptor.
@@ -645,7 +649,7 @@ int nxrmutex_destroy(FAR rmutex_t *rmutex)
  * Name: nxrmutex_is_hold
  *
  * Description:
- *   This function check whether the caller hold the recursive mutex
+ *   This function check whether the calling thread hold the recursive mutex
  *   referenced by 'rmutex'.
  *
  * Parameters:
@@ -664,7 +668,11 @@ bool nxrmutex_is_hold(FAR rmutex_t *rmutex)
  * Name: nxrmutex_is_recursive
  *
  * Description:
- *   This function check whether the recursive mutex is recursive
+ *   This function check whether the recursive mutex is currently held
+ *   recursively. That is, whether it's locked more than once by the
+ *   current holder.
+ *   Note that this is inherently racy unless the calling thread is
+ *   holding the mutex.
  *
  * Parameters:
  *   rmutex - Recursive mutex descriptor.
@@ -684,6 +692,8 @@ bool nxrmutex_is_recursive(FAR rmutex_t *rmutex)
  *
  * Description:
  *   This function get the holder of the mutex referenced by 'mutex'.
+ *   Note that this is inherently racy unless the calling thread is
+ *   holding the mutex.
  *
  * Parameters:
  *   rmutex - Rmutex descriptor.
@@ -703,6 +713,8 @@ int nxrmutex_get_holder(FAR rmutex_t *rmutex)
  * Description:
  *   This function get the lock state the recursive mutex
  *   referenced by 'rmutex'.
+ *   Note that this is inherently racy unless the calling thread is
+ *   holding the mutex.
  *
  * Parameters:
  *   rmutex - Recursive mutex descriptor.