diff --git a/arch/x86_64/kernel/mce.c b/arch/x86_64/kernel/mce.c
index 7ab15c8ab95f..21e70625a495 100644
--- a/arch/x86_64/kernel/mce.c
+++ b/arch/x86_64/kernel/mce.c
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ static ssize_t mce_read(struct file *filp, char __user *ubuf, size_t usize, loff
 	memset(mcelog.entry, 0, next * sizeof(struct mce));
 	mcelog.next = 0;
 
-	synchronize_kernel();	
+	synchronize_sched();
 
 	/* Collect entries that were still getting written before the synchronize. */
 
diff --git a/drivers/input/serio/i8042.c b/drivers/input/serio/i8042.c
index 5900de3c3f4f..a9bf549c8dc5 100644
--- a/drivers/input/serio/i8042.c
+++ b/drivers/input/serio/i8042.c
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ static void i8042_stop(struct serio *serio)
 	struct i8042_port *port = serio->port_data;
 
 	port->exists = 0;
-	synchronize_kernel();
+	synchronize_sched();
 	port->serio = NULL;
 }
 
diff --git a/include/asm-i386/kdebug.h b/include/asm-i386/kdebug.h
index de6498b0d493..b3f8d5f59d5d 100644
--- a/include/asm-i386/kdebug.h
+++ b/include/asm-i386/kdebug.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ struct die_args {
 };
 
 /* Note - you should never unregister because that can race with NMIs.
-   If you really want to do it first unregister - then synchronize_kernel - then free.
+   If you really want to do it first unregister - then synchronize_sched - then free.
   */
 int register_die_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb);
 extern struct notifier_block *i386die_chain;
diff --git a/include/asm-ppc64/kdebug.h b/include/asm-ppc64/kdebug.h
index 488634258a72..d383d161cf8d 100644
--- a/include/asm-ppc64/kdebug.h
+++ b/include/asm-ppc64/kdebug.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ struct die_args {
 
 /*
    Note - you should never unregister because that can race with NMIs.
-   If you really want to do it first unregister - then synchronize_kernel -
+   If you really want to do it first unregister - then synchronize_sched -
    then free.
  */
 int register_die_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb);
diff --git a/include/asm-sparc64/kdebug.h b/include/asm-sparc64/kdebug.h
index f70d3dad01f9..6321f5a0198d 100644
--- a/include/asm-sparc64/kdebug.h
+++ b/include/asm-sparc64/kdebug.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ struct die_args {
 };
 
 /* Note - you should never unregister because that can race with NMIs.
- * If you really want to do it first unregister - then synchronize_kernel
+ * If you really want to do it first unregister - then synchronize_sched
  * - then free.
  */
 int register_die_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb);
diff --git a/include/asm-x86_64/kdebug.h b/include/asm-x86_64/kdebug.h
index 6277f75cbb4b..b90341994d80 100644
--- a/include/asm-x86_64/kdebug.h
+++ b/include/asm-x86_64/kdebug.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ struct die_args {
 }; 
 
 /* Note - you should never unregister because that can race with NMIs.
-   If you really want to do it first unregister - then synchronize_kernel - then free. 
+   If you really want to do it first unregister - then synchronize_sched - then free.
   */
 int register_die_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb);
 extern struct notifier_block *die_chain;
diff --git a/include/linux/list.h b/include/linux/list.h
index 399b51d17218..aab2db21b013 100644
--- a/include/linux/list.h
+++ b/include/linux/list.h
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ static inline void list_del(struct list_head *entry)
  * list_for_each_entry_rcu().
  *
  * Note that the caller is not permitted to immediately free
- * the newly deleted entry.  Instead, either synchronize_kernel()
+ * the newly deleted entry.  Instead, either synchronize_rcu()
  * or call_rcu() must be used to defer freeing until an RCU
  * grace period has elapsed.
  */
diff --git a/security/keys/key.c b/security/keys/key.c
index 3304d37bb379..fb89f9844465 100644
--- a/security/keys/key.c
+++ b/security/keys/key.c
@@ -980,7 +980,7 @@ void unregister_key_type(struct key_type *ktype)
 	spin_unlock(&key_serial_lock);
 
 	/* make sure everyone revalidates their keys */
-	synchronize_kernel();
+	synchronize_rcu();
 
 	/* we should now be able to destroy the payloads of all the keys of
 	 * this type with impunity */
diff --git a/security/keys/process_keys.c b/security/keys/process_keys.c
index 34db087bbcc7..9b0369c5a223 100644
--- a/security/keys/process_keys.c
+++ b/security/keys/process_keys.c
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ static int install_session_keyring(struct task_struct *tsk,
 	ret = 0;
 
 	/* we're using RCU on the pointer */
-	synchronize_kernel();
+	synchronize_rcu();
 	key_put(old);
  error:
 	return ret;