Merge pull request #11333 from ctiller/faster_timer_pool

Get rid of zero-length poll case now that timer pool exists

9 files changed, 197 insertions, 129 deletions

diff --git a/src/core/lib/iomgr/iomgr.c b/src/core/lib/iomgr/iomgr.c
index 1fd41c2f88..d0071bfc94 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/iomgr/iomgr.c
+++ b/src/core/lib/iomgr/iomgr.c
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ void grpc_iomgr_shutdown(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx) {
       }
       last_warning_time = gpr_now(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME);
     }
-    if (grpc_timer_check(exec_ctx, gpr_inf_future(GPR_CLOCK_MONOTONIC), NULL)) {
+    if (grpc_timer_check(exec_ctx, gpr_inf_future(GPR_CLOCK_MONOTONIC), NULL) ==
+        GRPC_TIMERS_FIRED) {
       gpr_mu_unlock(&g_mu);
       grpc_exec_ctx_flush(exec_ctx);
       grpc_iomgr_platform_flush();
diff --git a/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer.h b/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer.h
index e0338f93c7..d6758f7c3b 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer.h
+++ b/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer.h
@@ -89,6 +89,12 @@ void grpc_timer_cancel(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_timer *timer);
 
 /* iomgr internal api for dealing with timers */
 
+typedef enum {
+  GRPC_TIMERS_NOT_CHECKED,
+  GRPC_TIMERS_CHECKED_AND_EMPTY,
+  GRPC_TIMERS_FIRED,
+} grpc_timer_check_result;
+
 /* Check for timers to be run, and run them.
    Return true if timer callbacks were executed.
    If next is non-null, TRY to update *next with the next running timer
@@ -96,8 +102,8 @@ void grpc_timer_cancel(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_timer *timer);
    *next is never guaranteed to be updated on any given execution; however,
    with high probability at least one thread in the system will see an update
    at any time slice. */
-bool grpc_timer_check(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, gpr_timespec now,
-                      gpr_timespec *next);
+grpc_timer_check_result grpc_timer_check(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
+                                         gpr_timespec now, gpr_timespec *next);
 void grpc_timer_list_init(gpr_timespec now);
 void grpc_timer_list_shutdown(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx);
 
diff --git a/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_generic.c b/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_generic.c
index b28340b71c..019cd8f309 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_generic.c
+++ b/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_generic.c
@@ -101,8 +101,10 @@ static gpr_atm saturating_add(gpr_atm a, gpr_atm b) {
   return a + b;
 }
 
-static int run_some_expired_timers(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, gpr_atm now,
-                                   gpr_atm *next, grpc_error *error);
+static grpc_timer_check_result run_some_expired_timers(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
+                                                       gpr_atm now,
+                                                       gpr_atm *next,
+                                                       grpc_error *error);
 
 static gpr_timespec dbl_to_ts(double d) {
   gpr_timespec ts;
@@ -421,19 +423,22 @@ static size_t pop_timers(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, shard_type *shard,
   return n;
 }
 
-static int run_some_expired_timers(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, gpr_atm now,
-                                   gpr_atm *next, grpc_error *error) {
-  size_t n = 0;
+static grpc_timer_check_result run_some_expired_timers(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
+                                                       gpr_atm now,
+                                                       gpr_atm *next,
+                                                       grpc_error *error) {
+  grpc_timer_check_result result = GRPC_TIMERS_NOT_CHECKED;
 
   gpr_atm min_timer = gpr_atm_no_barrier_load(&g_shared_mutables.min_timer);
   gpr_tls_set(&g_last_seen_min_timer, min_timer);
   if (now < min_timer) {
     if (next != NULL) *next = GPR_MIN(*next, min_timer);
-    return 0;
+    return GRPC_TIMERS_CHECKED_AND_EMPTY;
   }
 
   if (gpr_spinlock_trylock(&g_shared_mutables.checker_mu)) {
     gpr_mu_lock(&g_shared_mutables.mu);
+    result = GRPC_TIMERS_CHECKED_AND_EMPTY;
 
     if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
       gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "  .. shard[%d]->min_deadline = %" PRIdPTR,
@@ -448,14 +453,17 @@ static int run_some_expired_timers(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, gpr_atm now,
       /* For efficiency, we pop as many available timers as we can from the
          shard.  This may violate perfect timer deadline ordering, but that
          shouldn't be a big deal because we don't make ordering guarantees. */
-      n +=
-          pop_timers(exec_ctx, g_shard_queue[0], now, &new_min_deadline, error);
+      if (pop_timers(exec_ctx, g_shard_queue[0], now, &new_min_deadline,
+                     error) > 0) {
+        result = GRPC_TIMERS_FIRED;
+      }
 
       if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
-        gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "  .. popped --> %" PRIdPTR
-                           ", shard[%d]->min_deadline %" PRIdPTR
-                           " --> %" PRIdPTR ", now=%" PRIdPTR,
-                n, (int)(g_shard_queue[0] - g_shards),
+        gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG,
+                "  .. result --> %d"
+                ", shard[%d]->min_deadline %" PRIdPTR " --> %" PRIdPTR
+                ", now=%" PRIdPTR,
+                result, (int)(g_shard_queue[0] - g_shards),
                 g_shard_queue[0]->min_deadline, new_min_deadline, now);
       }
 
@@ -476,26 +484,15 @@ static int run_some_expired_timers(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, gpr_atm now,
                              g_shard_queue[0]->min_deadline);
     gpr_mu_unlock(&g_shared_mutables.mu);
     gpr_spinlock_unlock(&g_shared_mutables.checker_mu);
-  } else if (next != NULL) {
-    /* TODO(ctiller): this forces calling code to do an short poll, and
-       then retry the timer check (because this time through the timer list was
-       contended).
-
-       We could reduce the cost here dramatically by keeping a count of how
-       many currently active pollers got through the uncontended case above
-       successfully, and waking up other pollers IFF that count drops to zero.
-
-       Once that count is in place, this entire else branch could disappear. */
-    *next = GPR_MIN(*next, now + 1);
   }
 
   GRPC_ERROR_UNREF(error);
 
-  return (int)n;
+  return result;
 }
 
-bool grpc_timer_check(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, gpr_timespec now,
-                      gpr_timespec *next) {
+grpc_timer_check_result grpc_timer_check(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
+                                         gpr_timespec now, gpr_timespec *next) {
   // prelude
   GPR_ASSERT(now.clock_type == g_clock_type);
   gpr_atm now_atm = timespec_to_atm_round_down(now);
@@ -513,7 +510,7 @@ bool grpc_timer_check(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, gpr_timespec now,
               "TIMER CHECK SKIP: now_atm=%" PRIdPTR " min_timer=%" PRIdPTR,
               now_atm, min_timer);
     }
-    return 0;
+    return GRPC_TIMERS_CHECKED_AND_EMPTY;
   }
 
   grpc_error *shutdown_error =
@@ -538,7 +535,7 @@ bool grpc_timer_check(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, gpr_timespec now,
     gpr_free(next_str);
   }
   // actual code
-  bool r;
+  grpc_timer_check_result r;
   gpr_atm next_atm;
   if (next == NULL) {
     r = run_some_expired_timers(exec_ctx, now_atm, NULL, shutdown_error);
@@ -556,11 +553,10 @@ bool grpc_timer_check(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, gpr_timespec now,
       gpr_asprintf(&next_str, "%" PRId64 ".%09d [%" PRIdPTR "]", next->tv_sec,
                    next->tv_nsec, next_atm);
     }
-    gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "TIMER CHECK END: %d timers triggered; next=%s", r,
-            next_str);
+    gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "TIMER CHECK END: r=%d; next=%s", r, next_str);
     gpr_free(next_str);
   }
-  return r > 0;
+  return r;
 }
 
 #endif /* GRPC_TIMER_USE_GENERIC */
diff --git a/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_manager.c b/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_manager.c
index 24085093e7..082dfe8299 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_manager.c
+++ b/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_manager.c
@@ -107,86 +107,124 @@ void grpc_timer_manager_tick() {
   grpc_exec_ctx_finish(&exec_ctx);
 }
 
-static void timer_thread(void *unused) {
-  // this threads exec_ctx: we try to run things through to completion here
-  // since it's easy to spin up new threads
-  grpc_exec_ctx exec_ctx =
-      GRPC_EXEC_CTX_INITIALIZER(0, grpc_never_ready_to_finish, NULL);
+static void run_some_timers(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx) {
+  // if there's something to execute...
+  gpr_mu_lock(&g_mu);
+  // remove a waiter from the pool, and start another thread if necessary
+  --g_waiter_count;
+  if (g_waiter_count == 0 && g_threaded) {
+    start_timer_thread_and_unlock();
+  } else {
+    // if there's no thread waiting with a timeout, kick an existing
+    // waiter
+    // so that the next deadline is not missed
+    if (!g_has_timed_waiter) {
+      if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
+        gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "kick untimed waiter");
+      }
+      gpr_cv_signal(&g_cv_wait);
+    }
+    gpr_mu_unlock(&g_mu);
+  }
+  // without our lock, flush the exec_ctx
+  grpc_exec_ctx_flush(exec_ctx);
+  gpr_mu_lock(&g_mu);
+  // garbage collect any threads hanging out that are dead
+  gc_completed_threads();
+  // get ready to wait again
+  ++g_waiter_count;
+  gpr_mu_unlock(&g_mu);
+}
+
+// wait until 'next' (or forever if there is already a timed waiter in the pool)
+// returns true if the thread should continue executing (false if it should
+// shutdown)
+static bool wait_until(gpr_timespec next) {
+  const gpr_timespec inf_future = gpr_inf_future(GPR_CLOCK_MONOTONIC);
+  gpr_mu_lock(&g_mu);
+  // if we're not threaded anymore, leave
+  if (!g_threaded) {
+    gpr_mu_unlock(&g_mu);
+    return false;
+  }
+  // if there's no timed waiter, we should become one: that waiter waits
+  // only until the next timer should expire
+  // all other timers wait forever
+  uint64_t my_timed_waiter_generation = g_timed_waiter_generation - 1;
+  if (!g_has_timed_waiter && gpr_time_cmp(next, inf_future) != 0) {
+    g_has_timed_waiter = true;
+    // we use a generation counter to track the timed waiter so we can
+    // cancel an existing one quickly (and when it actually times out it'll
+    // figure stuff out instead of incurring a wakeup)
+    my_timed_waiter_generation = ++g_timed_waiter_generation;
+    if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
+      gpr_timespec wait_time = gpr_time_sub(next, gpr_now(GPR_CLOCK_MONOTONIC));
+      gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "sleep for a %" PRId64 ".%09d seconds",
+              wait_time.tv_sec, wait_time.tv_nsec);
+    }
+  } else {
+    next = inf_future;
+    if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
+      gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "sleep until kicked");
+    }
+  }
+  gpr_cv_wait(&g_cv_wait, &g_mu, next);
+  if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
+    gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "wait ended: was_timed:%d kicked:%d",
+            my_timed_waiter_generation == g_timed_waiter_generation, g_kicked);
+  }
+  // if this was the timed waiter, then we need to check timers, and flag
+  // that there's now no timed waiter... we'll look for a replacement if
+  // there's work to do after checking timers (code above)
+  if (my_timed_waiter_generation == g_timed_waiter_generation) {
+    g_has_timed_waiter = false;
+  }
+  // if this was a kick from the timer system, consume it (and don't stop
+  // this thread yet)
+  if (g_kicked) {
+    grpc_timer_consume_kick();
+    g_kicked = false;
+  }
+  gpr_mu_unlock(&g_mu);
+  return true;
+}
+
+static void timer_main_loop(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx) {
   const gpr_timespec inf_future = gpr_inf_future(GPR_CLOCK_MONOTONIC);
   for (;;) {
     gpr_timespec next = inf_future;
     gpr_timespec now = gpr_now(GPR_CLOCK_MONOTONIC);
     // check timer state, updates next to the next time to run a check
-    if (grpc_timer_check(&exec_ctx, now, &next)) {
-      // if there's something to execute...
-      gpr_mu_lock(&g_mu);
-      // remove a waiter from the pool, and start another thread if necessary
-      --g_waiter_count;
-      if (g_waiter_count == 0 && g_threaded) {
-        start_timer_thread_and_unlock();
-      } else {
-        // if there's no thread waiting with a timeout, kick an existing waiter
-        // so that the next deadline is not missed
-        if (!g_has_timed_waiter) {
-          if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
-            gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "kick untimed waiter");
-          }
-          gpr_cv_signal(&g_cv_wait);
-        }
-        gpr_mu_unlock(&g_mu);
-      }
-      // without our lock, flush the exec_ctx
-      grpc_exec_ctx_flush(&exec_ctx);
-      gpr_mu_lock(&g_mu);
-      // garbage collect any threads hanging out that are dead
-      gc_completed_threads();
-      // get ready to wait again
-      ++g_waiter_count;
-      gpr_mu_unlock(&g_mu);
-    } else {
-      gpr_mu_lock(&g_mu);
-      // if we're not threaded anymore, leave
-      if (!g_threaded) break;
-      // if there's no timed waiter, we should become one: that waiter waits
-      // only until the next timer should expire
-      // all other timers wait forever
-      uint64_t my_timed_waiter_generation = g_timed_waiter_generation - 1;
-      if (!g_has_timed_waiter) {
-        g_has_timed_waiter = true;
-        // we use a generation counter to track the timed waiter so we can
-        // cancel an existing one quickly (and when it actually times out it'll
-        // figure stuff out instead of incurring a wakeup)
-        my_timed_waiter_generation = ++g_timed_waiter_generation;
+    switch (grpc_timer_check(exec_ctx, now, &next)) {
+      case GRPC_TIMERS_FIRED:
+        run_some_timers(exec_ctx);
+        break;
+      case GRPC_TIMERS_NOT_CHECKED:
+        /* This case only happens under contention, meaning more than one timer
+           manager thread checked timers concurrently.
+
+           If that happens, we're guaranteed that some other thread has just
+           checked timers, and this will avalanche into some other thread seeing
+           empty timers and doing a timed sleep.
+
+           Consequently, we can just sleep forever here and be happy at some
+           saved wakeup cycles. */
         if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
-          gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "sleep for a while");
+          gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "timers not checked: expect another thread to");
         }
-      } else {
         next = inf_future;
-        if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
-          gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "sleep until kicked");
+      /* fall through */
+      case GRPC_TIMERS_CHECKED_AND_EMPTY:
+        if (!wait_until(next)) {
+          return;
         }
-      }
-      gpr_cv_wait(&g_cv_wait, &g_mu, next);
-      if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
-        gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "wait ended: was_timed:%d kicked:%d",
-                my_timed_waiter_generation == g_timed_waiter_generation,
-                g_kicked);
-      }
-      // if this was the timed waiter, then we need to check timers, and flag
-      // that there's now no timed waiter... we'll look for a replacement if
-      // there's work to do after checking timers (code above)
-      if (my_timed_waiter_generation == g_timed_waiter_generation) {
-        g_has_timed_waiter = false;
-      }
-      // if this was a kick from the timer system, consume it (and don't stop
-      // this thread yet)
-      if (g_kicked) {
-        grpc_timer_consume_kick();
-        g_kicked = false;
-      }
-      gpr_mu_unlock(&g_mu);
+        break;
     }
   }
+}
+
+static void timer_thread_cleanup(void) {
+  gpr_mu_lock(&g_mu);
   // terminate the thread: drop the waiter count, thread count, and let whomever
   // stopped the threading stuff know that we're done
   --g_waiter_count;
@@ -199,12 +237,21 @@ static void timer_thread(void *unused) {
   ct->next = g_completed_threads;
   g_completed_threads = ct;
   gpr_mu_unlock(&g_mu);
-  grpc_exec_ctx_finish(&exec_ctx);
   if (GRPC_TRACER_ON(grpc_timer_check_trace)) {
     gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "End timer thread");
   }
 }
 
+static void timer_thread(void *unused) {
+  // this threads exec_ctx: we try to run things through to completion here
+  // since it's easy to spin up new threads
+  grpc_exec_ctx exec_ctx =
+      GRPC_EXEC_CTX_INITIALIZER(0, grpc_never_ready_to_finish, NULL);
+  timer_main_loop(&exec_ctx);
+  grpc_exec_ctx_finish(&exec_ctx);
+  timer_thread_cleanup();
+}
+
 static void start_threads(void) {
   gpr_mu_lock(&g_mu);
   if (!g_threaded) {
diff --git a/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_uv.c b/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_uv.c
index 2952e44b58..967e84eb14 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_uv.c
+++ b/src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_uv.c
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@ void grpc_timer_cancel(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_timer *timer) {
   }
 }
 
-bool grpc_timer_check(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, gpr_timespec now,
-                      gpr_timespec *next) {
-  return false;
+grpc_timer_check_result grpc_timer_check(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
+                                         gpr_timespec now, gpr_timespec *next) {
+  return GRPC_TIMERS_NOT_CHECKED;
 }
 
 void grpc_timer_list_init(gpr_timespec now) {}
diff --git a/src/core/lib/support/log.c b/src/core/lib/support/log.c
index af1651dae5..4d15553768 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/support/log.c
+++ b/src/core/lib/support/log.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 extern void gpr_default_log(gpr_log_func_args *args);
-static gpr_log_func g_log_func = gpr_default_log;
+static gpr_atm g_log_func = (gpr_atm)gpr_default_log;
 static gpr_atm g_min_severity_to_print = GPR_LOG_VERBOSITY_UNSET;
 
 const char *gpr_log_severity_string(gpr_log_severity severity) {
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void gpr_log_message(const char *file, int line, gpr_log_severity severity,
   lfargs.line = line;
   lfargs.severity = severity;
   lfargs.message = message;
-  g_log_func(&lfargs);
+  ((gpr_log_func)gpr_atm_no_barrier_load(&g_log_func))(&lfargs);
 }
 
 void gpr_set_log_verbosity(gpr_log_severity min_severity_to_print) {
@@ -99,5 +99,5 @@ void gpr_log_verbosity_init() {
 }
 
 void gpr_set_log_function(gpr_log_func f) {
-  g_log_func = f ? f : gpr_default_log;
+  gpr_atm_no_barrier_store(&g_log_func, (gpr_atm)(f ? f : gpr_default_log));
 }
diff --git a/test/core/iomgr/tcp_client_posix_test.c b/test/core/iomgr/tcp_client_posix_test.c
index 6e1bb43eb5..276684e855 100644
--- a/test/core/iomgr/tcp_client_posix_test.c
+++ b/test/core/iomgr/tcp_client_posix_test.c
@@ -181,10 +181,17 @@ void test_fails(void) {
     grpc_pollset_worker *worker = NULL;
     gpr_timespec now = gpr_now(GPR_CLOCK_MONOTONIC);
     gpr_timespec polling_deadline = test_deadline();
-    if (!grpc_timer_check(&exec_ctx, now, &polling_deadline)) {
-      GPR_ASSERT(GRPC_LOG_IF_ERROR(
-          "pollset_work", grpc_pollset_work(&exec_ctx, g_pollset, &worker, now,
-                                            polling_deadline)));
+    switch (grpc_timer_check(&exec_ctx, now, &polling_deadline)) {
+      case GRPC_TIMERS_FIRED:
+        break;
+      case GRPC_TIMERS_NOT_CHECKED:
+        polling_deadline = now;
+      /* fall through */
+      case GRPC_TIMERS_CHECKED_AND_EMPTY:
+        GPR_ASSERT(GRPC_LOG_IF_ERROR(
+            "pollset_work", grpc_pollset_work(&exec_ctx, g_pollset, &worker,
+                                              now, polling_deadline)));
+        break;
     }
     gpr_mu_unlock(g_mu);
     grpc_exec_ctx_flush(&exec_ctx);
diff --git a/test/core/iomgr/tcp_client_uv_test.c b/test/core/iomgr/tcp_client_uv_test.c
index 3a8458df86..4ec05cff12 100644
--- a/test/core/iomgr/tcp_client_uv_test.c
+++ b/test/core/iomgr/tcp_client_uv_test.c
@@ -178,10 +178,17 @@ void test_fails(void) {
     grpc_pollset_worker *worker = NULL;
     gpr_timespec now = gpr_now(GPR_CLOCK_MONOTONIC);
     gpr_timespec polling_deadline = test_deadline();
-    if (!grpc_timer_check(&exec_ctx, now, &polling_deadline)) {
-      GPR_ASSERT(GRPC_LOG_IF_ERROR(
-          "pollset_work", grpc_pollset_work(&exec_ctx, g_pollset, &worker, now,
-                                            polling_deadline)));
+    switch (grpc_timer_check(&exec_ctx, now, &polling_deadline)) {
+      case GRPC_TIMERS_FIRED:
+        break;
+      case GRPC_TIMERS_NOT_CHECKED:
+        polling_deadline = now;
+      /* fall through */
+      case GRPC_TIMERS_CHECKED_AND_EMPTY:
+        GPR_ASSERT(GRPC_LOG_IF_ERROR(
+            "pollset_work", grpc_pollset_work(&exec_ctx, g_pollset, &worker,
+                                              now, polling_deadline)));
+        break;
     }
     gpr_mu_unlock(g_mu);
     grpc_exec_ctx_flush(&exec_ctx);
diff --git a/test/core/iomgr/timer_list_test.c b/test/core/iomgr/timer_list_test.c
index 88a9f6b855..2a3a47ccf9 100644
--- a/test/core/iomgr/timer_list_test.c
+++ b/test/core/iomgr/timer_list_test.c
@@ -88,17 +88,19 @@ static void add_test(void) {
 
   /* collect timers.  Only the first batch should be ready. */
   GPR_ASSERT(grpc_timer_check(
-      &exec_ctx, gpr_time_add(start, gpr_time_from_millis(500, GPR_TIMESPAN)),
-      NULL));
+                 &exec_ctx,
+                 gpr_time_add(start, gpr_time_from_millis(500, GPR_TIMESPAN)),
+                 NULL) == GRPC_TIMERS_FIRED);
   grpc_exec_ctx_finish(&exec_ctx);
   for (i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
     GPR_ASSERT(cb_called[i][1] == (i < 10));
     GPR_ASSERT(cb_called[i][0] == 0);
   }
 
-  GPR_ASSERT(!grpc_timer_check(
-      &exec_ctx, gpr_time_add(start, gpr_time_from_millis(600, GPR_TIMESPAN)),
-      NULL));
+  GPR_ASSERT(grpc_timer_check(
+                 &exec_ctx,
+                 gpr_time_add(start, gpr_time_from_millis(600, GPR_TIMESPAN)),
+                 NULL) == GRPC_TIMERS_CHECKED_AND_EMPTY);
   grpc_exec_ctx_finish(&exec_ctx);
   for (i = 0; i < 30; i++) {
     GPR_ASSERT(cb_called[i][1] == (i < 10));
@@ -107,17 +109,19 @@ static void add_test(void) {
 
   /* collect the rest of the timers */
   GPR_ASSERT(grpc_timer_check(
-      &exec_ctx, gpr_time_add(start, gpr_time_from_millis(1500, GPR_TIMESPAN)),
-      NULL));
+                 &exec_ctx,
+                 gpr_time_add(start, gpr_time_from_millis(1500, GPR_TIMESPAN)),
+                 NULL) == GRPC_TIMERS_FIRED);
   grpc_exec_ctx_finish(&exec_ctx);
   for (i = 0; i < 30; i++) {
     GPR_ASSERT(cb_called[i][1] == (i < 20));
     GPR_ASSERT(cb_called[i][0] == 0);
   }
 
-  GPR_ASSERT(!grpc_timer_check(
-      &exec_ctx, gpr_time_add(start, gpr_time_from_millis(1600, GPR_TIMESPAN)),
-      NULL));
+  GPR_ASSERT(grpc_timer_check(
+                 &exec_ctx,
+                 gpr_time_add(start, gpr_time_from_millis(1600, GPR_TIMESPAN)),
+                 NULL) == GRPC_TIMERS_CHECKED_AND_EMPTY);
   for (i = 0; i < 30; i++) {
     GPR_ASSERT(cb_called[i][1] == (i < 20));
     GPR_ASSERT(cb_called[i][0] == 0);
@@ -163,7 +167,7 @@ void destruction_test(void) {
       &exec_ctx, &timers[4], tfm(1),
       grpc_closure_create(cb, (void *)(intptr_t)4, grpc_schedule_on_exec_ctx),
       gpr_time_0(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME));
-  GPR_ASSERT(1 == grpc_timer_check(&exec_ctx, tfm(2), NULL));
+  GPR_ASSERT(grpc_timer_check(&exec_ctx, tfm(2), NULL) == GRPC_TIMERS_FIRED);
   grpc_exec_ctx_finish(&exec_ctx);
   GPR_ASSERT(1 == cb_called[4][1]);
   grpc_timer_cancel(&exec_ctx, &timers[0]);