diff --git a/lib/isc/include/isc/mem.h b/lib/isc/include/isc/mem.h
index baef6eaed6..7dee56f04a 100644
--- a/lib/isc/include/isc/mem.h
+++ b/lib/isc/include/isc/mem.h
@@ -90,22 +90,110 @@ void 				memstats(FILE *);
 /*
  * Memory pools
  */
-isc_result_t	isc_mempool_create(isc_mem_t *, size_t, isc_mempool_t **);
-void		isc_mempool_destroy(isc_mempool_t **);
+
+/*
+ * Internal (but public) functions.  Don't call these from application
+ * code.  Use isc_mempool_get() and isc_mempool_put() instead.
+ */
 void *		__isc_mempool_get(isc_mempool_t *);
 void 		__isc_mempool_put(isc_mempool_t *, void *);
 void *		__isc_mempool_getdebug(isc_mempool_t *, const char *, int);
 void 		__isc_mempool_putdebug(isc_mempool_t *, void *,
 				       const char *, int);
 
-unsigned int	isc_mempool_getfreemax(isc_mempool_t *);
-void		isc_mempool_setfreemax(isc_mempool_t *, unsigned int);
-unsigned int	isc_mempool_getfreecount(isc_mempool_t *);
-unsigned int	isc_mempool_getmaxalloc(isc_mempool_t *);
-void		isc_mempool_setmaxalloc(isc_mempool_t *, unsigned int);
-unsigned int	isc_mempool_getallocated(isc_mempool_t *);
-unsigned int	isc_mempool_getfillcount(isc_mempool_t *);
-void		isc_mempool_setfillcount(isc_mempool_t *, unsigned int);
+isc_result_t	isc_mempool_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, size_t size,
+				   isc_mempool_t **mpctxp);
+/*
+ * Create a memory pool.
+ *
+ * Requires:
+ *	mctx is a valid memory context.
+ *	size > 0
+ *	mpctxp != NULL and *mpctxp == NULL
+ *
+ * Defaults:
+ *	maxalloc = UINT_MAX
+ *	freemax = 1
+ *	fillcount = 1
+ *
+ * Returns:
+ *	ISC_R_NOMEMORY		-- not enough memory to create pool
+ *	ISC_R_SUCCESS		-- all is well.
+ */
+
+void		isc_mempool_destroy(isc_mempool_t **mpctxp);
+/*
+ * Destroy a memory pool.
+ *
+ * Requires:
+ *	mpctxp is a valid pool.
+ *	The pool has no un"put" allocations outstanding
+ */
+
+
+/*
+ * The following functions get/set various parameters.  Note that due to
+ * the unlocked nature of pools these are potentially random values unless
+ * the imposed externally provided locking protocols are followed.
+ *
+ * Also note that the quota limits will not always take immediate effect.
+ * For instance, setting "maxalloc" to a number larger than the currently
+ * allocated count is permitted.  New allocations will be refused until
+ * the count drops below this threshold.
+ *
+ * All functions require (in addition to other requirements):
+ *	mpctx is a valid memory pool
+ */
+
+unsigned int	isc_mempool_getfreemax(isc_mempool_t *mpctx);
+/*
+ * Returns the maximum allowed size of the free list.
+ */
+
+void		isc_mempool_setfreemax(isc_mempool_t *mpctx,
+				       unsigned int limit);
+/*
+ * Sets the maximum allowed size of the free list.
+ */
+
+unsigned int	isc_mempool_getfreecount(isc_mempool_t *mpctx);
+/*
+ * Returns current size of the free list.
+ */
+
+unsigned int	isc_mempool_getmaxalloc(isc_mempool_t *mpctx);
+/*
+ * Returns the maximum allowed number of allocations.
+ */
+
+void		isc_mempool_setmaxalloc(isc_mempool_t *mpctx,
+					unsigned int limit);
+/*
+ * Sets the maximum allowed number of allocations.
+ *
+ * Additional requirements:
+ *	limit > 0
+ */
+
+unsigned int	isc_mempool_getallocated(isc_mempool_t *mpctx);
+/*
+ * Returns the number of items allocated from this pool.
+ */
+
+unsigned int	isc_mempool_getfillcount(isc_mempool_t *mpctx);
+/*
+ * Returns the number of items allocated as a block from the parent memory
+ * context when the free list is empty.
+ */
+
+void		isc_mempool_setfillcount(isc_mempool_t *mpctx,
+					 unsigned int limit);
+/*
+ * Sets the fillcount.
+ *
+ * Additional requirements:
+ *	limit > 0
+ */
 
 ISC_LANG_ENDDECLS
 
diff --git a/lib/isc/mem.c b/lib/isc/mem.c
index 0af964ed23..1a91f6336b 100644
--- a/lib/isc/mem.c
+++ b/lib/isc/mem.c
@@ -717,13 +717,13 @@ mempool_releaseall(isc_mempool_t *mpctx)
 }
 
 isc_result_t
-isc_mempool_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, size_t target_size,
+isc_mempool_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, size_t size,
 		   isc_mempool_t **mpctxp)
 {
 	isc_mempool_t *mpctx;
 
 	REQUIRE(VALID_CONTEXT(mctx));
-	REQUIRE(target_size > 0);
+	REQUIRE(size > 0);
 	REQUIRE(mpctxp != NULL && *mpctxp == NULL);
 
 	/*
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ isc_mempool_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, size_t target_size,
 
 	mpctx->magic = MEMPOOL_MAGIC;
 	mpctx->mctx = mctx;
-	mpctx->size = target_size;
+	mpctx->size = size;
 	mpctx->maxalloc = UINT_MAX;
 	mpctx->allocated = 0;
 	mpctx->freecount = 0;
@@ -914,13 +914,6 @@ isc_mempool_setfreemax(isc_mempool_t *mpctx, unsigned int limit)
 	REQUIRE(VALID_MEMPOOL(mpctx));
 
 	mpctx->freemax = limit;
-
-	/*
-	 * XXXMLG Should clamp the count to the maximum number of items we
-	 * should have on our free list.  For now, allow the condition where
-	 * allocated + freecount > maxalloc, but in the future this should
-	 * be prevented.  alos, freecount > freemax should be checked for.
-	 */
 }
 
 unsigned int