diff --git a/arch/x86/include/asm/bootparam_utils.h b/arch/x86/include/asm/bootparam_utils.h
index ff808ef4fdb4..653668d140f9 100644
--- a/arch/x86/include/asm/bootparam_utils.h
+++ b/arch/x86/include/asm/bootparam_utils.h
@@ -19,8 +19,22 @@
  */
 static void sanitize_boot_params(struct boot_params *boot_params)
 {
+	/* 
+	 * IMPORTANT NOTE TO BOOTLOADER AUTHORS: do not simply clear
+	 * this field.  The purpose of this field is to guarantee
+	 * compliance with the x86 boot spec located in
+	 * Documentation/x86/boot.txt .  That spec says that the
+	 * *whole* structure should be cleared, after which only the
+	 * portion defined by struct setup_header (boot_params->hdr)
+	 * should be copied in.
+	 *
+	 * If you're having an issue because the sentinel is set, you
+	 * need to change the whole structure to be cleared, not this
+	 * (or any other) individual field, or you will soon have
+	 * problems again.
+	 */
 	if (boot_params->sentinel) {
-		/*fields in boot_params are not valid, clear them */
+		/* fields in boot_params are left uninitialized, clear them */
 		memset(&boot_params->olpc_ofw_header, 0,
 		       (char *)&boot_params->efi_info -
 			(char *)&boot_params->olpc_ofw_header);