diff --git a/Documentation/networking/ip-sysctl.txt b/Documentation/networking/ip-sysctl.txt
index ca447b35b833..d64e53124b8c 100644
--- a/Documentation/networking/ip-sysctl.txt
+++ b/Documentation/networking/ip-sysctl.txt
@@ -439,7 +439,9 @@ tcp_stdurg - BOOLEAN
 tcp_synack_retries - INTEGER
 	Number of times SYNACKs for a passive TCP connection attempt will
 	be retransmitted. Should not be higher than 255. Default value
-	is 5, which corresponds to ~180seconds.
+	is 5, which corresponds to 31seconds till the last retransmission
+	with the current initial RTO of 1second. With this the final timeout
+	for a passive TCP connection will happen after 63seconds.
 
 tcp_syncookies - BOOLEAN
 	Only valid when the kernel was compiled with CONFIG_SYNCOOKIES
@@ -478,7 +480,9 @@ tcp_fastopen - INTEGER
 tcp_syn_retries - INTEGER
 	Number of times initial SYNs for an active TCP connection attempt
 	will be retransmitted. Should not be higher than 255. Default value
-	is 5, which corresponds to ~180seconds.
+	is 6, which corresponds to 63seconds till the last restransmission
+	with the current initial RTO of 1second. With this the final timeout
+	for an active TCP connection attempt will happen after 127seconds.
 
 tcp_timestamps - BOOLEAN
 	Enable timestamps as defined in RFC1323.
diff --git a/include/net/tcp.h b/include/net/tcp.h
index 9a0021d16d91..0fca06f16463 100644
--- a/include/net/tcp.h
+++ b/include/net/tcp.h
@@ -98,11 +98,21 @@ extern void tcp_time_wait(struct sock *sk, int state, int timeo);
 				 * 15 is ~13-30min depending on RTO.
 				 */
 
-#define TCP_SYN_RETRIES	 5	/* number of times to retry active opening a
-				 * connection: ~180sec is RFC minimum	*/
+#define TCP_SYN_RETRIES	 6	/* This is how many retries are done
+				 * when active opening a connection.
+				 * RFC1122 says the minimum retry MUST
+				 * be at least 180secs.  Nevertheless
+				 * this value is corresponding to
+				 * 63secs of retransmission with the
+				 * current initial RTO.
+				 */
 
-#define TCP_SYNACK_RETRIES 5	/* number of times to retry passive opening a
-				 * connection: ~180sec is RFC minimum	*/
+#define TCP_SYNACK_RETRIES 5	/* This is how may retries are done
+				 * when passive opening a connection.
+				 * This is corresponding to 31secs of
+				 * retransmission with the current
+				 * initial RTO.
+				 */
 
 #define TCP_TIMEWAIT_LEN (60*HZ) /* how long to wait to destroy TIME-WAIT
 				  * state, about 60 seconds	*/