diff --git a/include/drm/drm_atomic.h b/include/drm/drm_atomic.h
index 1a80a8cdf269..88087910ab1a 100644
--- a/include/drm/drm_atomic.h
+++ b/include/drm/drm_atomic.h
@@ -263,11 +263,14 @@ struct drm_private_state;
 struct drm_private_state_funcs {
 	/**
 	 * @atomic_create_state:
 	 *
 	 * Allocates a pristine, initialized, state for the private
-	 * object and returns it.
+	 * object and returns it. This callback must have no side
+	 * effects: in particular, the returned state must not be
+	 * assigned to the object's state pointer and it must not affect
+	 * the hardware state.
 	 *
 	 * RETURNS:
 	 *
 	 * A new, pristine, private state instance or an error pointer
 	 * on failure.