diff --git a/include/sound/control.h b/include/sound/control.h
index 985c51a8fb74..fcd3cce673ec 100644
--- a/include/sound/control.h
+++ b/include/sound/control.h
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ typedef int (snd_kcontrol_tlv_rw_t)(struct snd_kcontrol *kcontrol,
 				    unsigned int __user *tlv);
 
 /* internal flag for skipping validations */
-#ifdef CONFIG_SND_CTL_VALIDATION
+#ifdef CONFIG_SND_CTL_DEBUG
 #define SNDRV_CTL_ELEM_ACCESS_SKIP_CHECK	(1 << 24)
 #define snd_ctl_skip_validation(info) \
 	((info)->access & SNDRV_CTL_ELEM_ACCESS_SKIP_CHECK)
diff --git a/sound/core/Kconfig b/sound/core/Kconfig
index 25b2434e4556..5289bb29131b 100644
--- a/sound/core/Kconfig
+++ b/sound/core/Kconfig
@@ -188,14 +188,19 @@ config SND_PCM_XRUN_DEBUG
 	  sound clicking when system is loaded, it may help to determine
 	  the process or driver which causes the scheduling gaps.
 
-config SND_CTL_VALIDATION
-	bool "Perform sanity-checks for each control element access"
+config SND_CTL_DEBUG
+	bool "Enable debugging feature for control API"
 	depends on SND_DEBUG
 	help
-	  Say Y to enable the additional validation of each control element
-	  access, including sanity-checks like whether the values returned
-	  from the driver are in the proper ranges or the check of the invalid
-	  access at out-of-array areas.
+	  Say Y to enable the debugging feature for ALSA control API.
+	  It performs the additional sanity-checks for each control element
+	  read access, such as whether the values returned from the driver
+	  are in the proper ranges or the check of the invalid access at
+	  out-of-array areas.  The error is printed when the driver gives
+	  such unexpected values.
+	  When you develop a driver that deals with control elements, it's
+	  strongly recommended to try this one once and verify whether you see
+	  any relevant errors or not.
 
 config SND_JACK_INJECTION_DEBUG
 	bool "Sound jack injection interface via debugfs"
diff --git a/sound/core/control.c b/sound/core/control.c
index 6a8fd9933f06..1401522ce552 100644
--- a/sound/core/control.c
+++ b/sound/core/control.c
@@ -966,7 +966,7 @@ static const unsigned int value_sizes[] = {
 	[SNDRV_CTL_ELEM_TYPE_INTEGER64] = sizeof(long long),
 };
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SND_CTL_VALIDATION
+#ifdef CONFIG_SND_CTL_DEBUG
 /* fill the remaining snd_ctl_elem_value data with the given pattern */
 static void fill_remaining_elem_value(struct snd_ctl_elem_value *control,
 				      struct snd_ctl_elem_info *info,
@@ -1188,7 +1188,7 @@ static int snd_ctl_elem_read(struct snd_card *card,
 
 	snd_ctl_build_ioff(&control->id, kctl, index_offset);
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SND_CTL_VALIDATION
+#ifdef CONFIG_SND_CTL_DEBUG
 	/* info is needed only for validation */
 	memset(&info, 0, sizeof(info));
 	info.id = control->id;