int state = new_bit & ~3;
        int dir = new_bit & 2;
 
+       /*
+        * keep state, bit flip the direction and strip read.
+        */
        return state | (dir ^ 2);
 }
 
        int read = new_bit & 1;
        int dir = new_bit & 2;
 
+       /*
+        * mark USED_IN has to look forwards -- to ensure no dependency
+        * has ENABLED state, which would allow recursion deadlocks.
+        *
+        * mark ENABLED has to look backwards -- to ensure no dependee
+        * has USED_IN state, which, again, would allow  recursion deadlocks.
+        */
        check_usage_f usage = dir ?
                check_usage_backwards : check_usage_forwards;
 
+       /*
+        * Validate that this particular lock does not have conflicting
+        * usage states.
+        */
        if (!valid_state(curr, this, new_bit, excl_bit))
                return 0;
 
-       if (!read && !valid_state(curr, this, new_bit, excl_bit + 1))
-               return 0;
-
-       if ((!read || (!dir || STRICT_READ_CHECKS)) &&
+       /*
+        * Validate that the lock dependencies don't have conflicting usage
+        * states.
+        */
+       if ((!read || !dir || STRICT_READ_CHECKS) &&
                        !usage(curr, this, excl_bit, name))
                return 0;
 
-       if ((!read && STRICT_READ_CHECKS) &&
-                       !usage(curr, this, excl_bit + 1, rname))
-               return 0;
+       /*
+        * Check for read in write conflicts
+        */
+       if (!read) {
+               if (!valid_state(curr, this, new_bit, excl_bit + 1))
+                       return 0;
+
+               if (STRICT_READ_CHECKS &&
+                               !usage(curr, this, excl_bit + 1, rname))
+                       return 0;
+       }
 
        if (state_verbose(new_bit, hlock_class(this)))
                return 2;