diff --git a/lib/glthread/lock.c b/lib/glthread/lock.c
index 6760bbd..215991e 100644
--- a/lib/glthread/lock.c
+++ b/lib/glthread/lock.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 
 /* ------------------------- gl_rwlock_t datatype ------------------------- */
 
-# if HAVE_PTHREAD_RWLOCK
+# if HAVE_PTHREAD_RWLOCK && !(__GNU_LIBRARY__ > 1)
 
 #  if !defined PTHREAD_RWLOCK_INITIALIZER
 
@@ -152,11 +152,9 @@ glthread_rwlock_rdlock_multithreaded (gl_rwlock_t *lock)
   if (err != 0)
     return err;
   /* Test whether only readers are currently running, and whether the runcount
-     field will not overflow.  */
-  /* POSIX says: "It is implementation-defined whether the calling thread
-     acquires the lock when a writer does not hold the lock and there are
-     writers blocked on the lock."  Let's say, no: give the writers a higher
-     priority.  */
+     field will not overflow, and whether no writer is waiting.  The latter
+     condition is because POSIX recommends that "write locks shall take
+     precedence over read locks", to avoid "writer starvation".  */
   while (!(lock->runcount + 1 > 0 && lock->waiting_writers_count == 0))
     {
       /* This thread has to wait for a while.  Enqueue it among the
@@ -796,8 +794,10 @@ glthread_rwlock_rdlock_func (gl_rwlock_t *lock)
     }
   EnterCriticalSection (&lock->lock);
   /* Test whether only readers are currently running, and whether the runcount
-     field will not overflow.  */
-  if (!(lock->runcount + 1 > 0))
+     field will not overflow, and whether no writer is waiting.  The latter
+     condition is because POSIX recommends that "write locks shall take
+     precedence over read locks", to avoid "writer starvation".  */
+  if (!(lock->runcount + 1 > 0 && lock->waiting_writers.count == 0))
     {
       /* This thread has to wait for a while.  Enqueue it among the
          waiting_readers.  */
diff --git a/lib/glthread/lock.h b/lib/glthread/lock.h
index 3ea98d6..c808d0e 100644
--- a/lib/glthread/lock.h
+++ b/lib/glthread/lock.h
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ typedef pthread_mutex_t gl_lock_t;
 
 /* ------------------------- gl_rwlock_t datatype ------------------------- */
 
-# if HAVE_PTHREAD_RWLOCK
+# if HAVE_PTHREAD_RWLOCK && !(__GNU_LIBRARY__ > 1)
 
 #  ifdef PTHREAD_RWLOCK_INITIALIZER