diff --git a/sys/kern/subr_witness.c b/sys/kern/subr_witness.c
index 9cdad8daaa9..e9d820e9dc9 100644
--- a/sys/kern/subr_witness.c
+++ b/sys/kern/subr_witness.c
@@ -376,9 +376,11 @@ static void	witness_list_lock(struct lock_instance *instance);
 SYSCTL_NODE(_debug, OID_AUTO, witness, CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "Witness Locking");
 
 /*
- * If set to 0, witness is disabled.  Otherwise witness performs full lock order
- * checking for all locks.  At runtime, witness is allowed to be turned off.
- * witness is not allowed be turned on once it is turned off, however.
+ * If set to 0, lock order checking is disabled.  If set to -1,
+ * witness is completely disabled.  Otherwise witness performs full
+ * lock order checking for all locks.  At runtime, lock order checking
+ * may be toggled.  However, witness cannot be reenabled once it is
+ * completely disabled.
  */
 static int witness_watch = 1;
 TUNABLE_INT("debug.witness.watch", &witness_watch);