diff --git a/include/linux/compiler.h b/include/linux/compiler.h
index a1c81f80978e..5e186bf6f6c1 100644
--- a/include/linux/compiler.h
+++ b/include/linux/compiler.h
@@ -447,12 +447,23 @@ static __always_inline void __assign_once_size(volatile void *p, void *res, int
  * to make the compiler aware of ordering is to put the two invocations of
  * ACCESS_ONCE() in different C statements.
  *
- * This macro does absolutely -nothing- to prevent the CPU from reordering,
- * merging, or refetching absolutely anything at any time.  Its main intended
- * use is to mediate communication between process-level code and irq/NMI
- * handlers, all running on the same CPU.
+ * ACCESS_ONCE will only work on scalar types. For union types, ACCESS_ONCE
+ * on a union member will work as long as the size of the member matches the
+ * size of the union and the size is smaller than word size.
+ *
+ * The major use cases of ACCESS_ONCE used to be (1) Mediating communication
+ * between process-level code and irq/NMI handlers, all running on the same CPU,
+ * and (2) Ensuring that the compiler does not  fold, spindle, or otherwise
+ * mutilate accesses that either do not require ordering or that interact
+ * with an explicit memory barrier or atomic instruction that provides the
+ * required ordering.
+ *
+ * If possible use READ_ONCE/ASSIGN_ONCE instead.
  */
-#define ACCESS_ONCE(x) (*(volatile typeof(x) *)&(x))
+#define __ACCESS_ONCE(x) ({ \
+	 __maybe_unused typeof(x) __var = 0; \
+	(volatile typeof(x) *)&(x); })
+#define ACCESS_ONCE(x) (*__ACCESS_ONCE(x))
 
 /* Ignore/forbid kprobes attach on very low level functions marked by this attribute: */
 #ifdef CONFIG_KPROBES