diff --git a/gossip/gossip.go b/gossip/gossip.go
index 1e73b1dae..40c15d23c 100644
--- a/gossip/gossip.go
+++ b/gossip/gossip.go
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@ func (g *memberSet) Open() (err error) {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Close implements the Closer interface.
+// Close attempts to gracefully leaves the cluster, and finally calls shutdown
+// after (at most) a timeout period.
 func (g *memberSet) Close() error {
 	leaveErr := g.memberlist.Leave(5 * time.Second)
 	shutdownErr := g.memberlist.Shutdown()