1 files changed, 13 insertions, 7 deletions
diff --git a/absl/base/attributes.h b/absl/base/attributes.h
index 52139556..2665d8f3 100644
--- a/absl/base/attributes.h
+++ b/absl/base/attributes.h
@@ -548,13 +548,19 @@
 // ABSL_ATTRIBUTE_PACKED
 //
 // Instructs the compiler not to use natural alignment for a tagged data
-// structure, but instead to reduce its alignment to 1. This attribute can
-// either be applied to members of a structure or to a structure in its
-// entirety. Applying this attribute (judiciously) to a structure in its
-// entirety to optimize the memory footprint of very commonly-used structs is
-// fine. Do not apply this attribute to a structure in its entirety if the
-// purpose is to control the offsets of the members in the structure. Instead,
-// apply this attribute only to structure members that need it.
+// structure, but instead to reduce its alignment to 1.
+//
+// Therefore, DO NOT APPLY THIS ATTRIBUTE TO STRUCTS CONTAINING ATOMICS. Doing
+// so can cause atomic variables to be mis-aligned and silently violate
+// atomicity on x86.
+//
+// This attribute can either be applied to members of a structure or to a
+// structure in its entirety. Applying this attribute (judiciously) to a
+// structure in its entirety to optimize the memory footprint of very
+// commonly-used structs is fine. Do not apply this attribute to a structure in
+// its entirety if the purpose is to control the offsets of the members in the
+// structure. Instead, apply this attribute only to structure members that need
+// it.
 //
 // When applying ABSL_ATTRIBUTE_PACKED only to specific structure members the
 // natural alignment of structure members not annotated is preserved. Aligned