diff --git a/include/linux/mmzone.h b/include/linux/mmzone.h
index 93a849f742db..88c30f844abf 100644
--- a/include/linux/mmzone.h
+++ b/include/linux/mmzone.h
@@ -91,6 +91,14 @@ struct per_cpu_pageset {
  * be 8 (2 ** 3) zonelists.  GFP_ZONETYPES defines the number of possible
  * combinations of zone modifiers in "zone modifier space".
  *
+ * As an optimisation any zone modifier bits which are only valid when
+ * no other zone modifier bits are set (loners) should be placed in
+ * the highest order bits of this field.  This allows us to reduce the
+ * extent of the zonelists thus saving space.  For example in the case
+ * of three zone modifier bits, we could require up to eight zonelists.
+ * If the left most zone modifier is a "loner" then the highest valid
+ * zonelist would be four allowing us to allocate only five zonelists.
+ *
  * NOTE! Make sure this matches the zones in <linux/gfp.h>
  */
 #define GFP_ZONEMASK	0x07