diff --git a/tools/memory-model/linux-kernel.cat b/tools/memory-model/linux-kernel.cat
index adf3c4f41229..d7e7bf13c831 100644
--- a/tools/memory-model/linux-kernel.cat
+++ b/tools/memory-model/linux-kernel.cat
@@ -34,6 +34,16 @@ let R4rmb = R \ Noreturn	(* Reads for which rmb works *)
 let rmb = [R4rmb] ; fencerel(Rmb) ; [R4rmb]
 let wmb = [W] ; fencerel(Wmb) ; [W]
 let mb = ([M] ; fencerel(Mb) ; [M]) |
+	(*
+	 * full-barrier RMWs (successful cmpxchg(), xchg(), etc.) act as
+	 * though there were enclosed by smp_mb().
+	 * The effect of these virtual smp_mb() is formalized by adding
+	 * Mb tags to the read and write of the operation, and providing
+	 * the same ordering as though there were additional po edges
+	 * between the Mb tag and the read resp. write.
+	 *)
+	([M] ; po ; [Mb & R]) |
+	([Mb & W] ; po ; [M]) |
 	([M] ; fencerel(Before-atomic) ; [RMW] ; po? ; [M]) |
 	([M] ; po? ; [RMW] ; fencerel(After-atomic) ; [M]) |
 	([M] ; po? ; [LKW] ; fencerel(After-spinlock) ; [M]) |