diff --git a/src/test/isolation/specs/insert-conflict-specconflict.spec b/src/test/isolation/specs/insert-conflict-specconflict.spec
index 71e46727cf..4ae33319ab 100644
--- a/src/test/isolation/specs/insert-conflict-specconflict.spec
+++ b/src/test/isolation/specs/insert-conflict-specconflict.spec
@@ -159,14 +159,20 @@ permutation
    "s2_commit"
    "controller_show"
 
-# Test that speculative wait is performed if session sees a speculatively
-# inserted tuple. Speculatively inserted tuple means tuple is inserted into the
-# table and unique index but yet to *complete* the speculative insertion
+# Test that speculative wait is performed if a session sees a speculatively
+# inserted tuple. A speculatively inserted tuple is one which has been inserted
+# both into the table and the unique index but has yet to *complete* the
+# speculative insertion
 permutation
-   # acquire a number of locks, to control execution flow - the
+   # acquire a number of advisory locks to control execution flow - the
    # blurt_and_lock function acquires advisory locks that allow us to
-   # continue after a) the optimistic conflict probe b) after the
+   # continue after a) the optimistic conflict probe and b) after the
    # insertion of the speculative tuple.
+   # blurt_and_lock2 acquires an advisory lock which allows us to pause
+   # execution c) before completing the speculative insertion
+
+   # create the second index here to avoid affecting the other
+   # permutations. also, s1 creates it instead of the controller because ...
    "s1_create_non_unique_index"
    "controller_locks"
    "controller_show"
@@ -184,9 +190,9 @@ permutation
    "controller_unlock_2_2"
    # This should still not show a successful insertion
    "controller_show"
-   # Allow the first session, it should perform speculative wait
+   # Allow the first session to continue, it should perform speculative wait
    "controller_unlock_1_2"
-   # Should report waiting on speculative lock
+   # Should report s1 is waiting on speculative lock
    "controller_print_speculative_locks"
    "controller_unlock_2_4"
    # This should now show a successful UPSERT