diff --git a/nptl/allocatestack.c b/nptl/allocatestack.c
index 54e95baad7..9be6c42894 100644
--- a/nptl/allocatestack.c
+++ b/nptl/allocatestack.c
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ get_cached_stack (size_t *sizep, void **memp)
   /* Cancellation handling is back to the default.  */
   result->cancelhandling = 0;
   result->cancelstate = PTHREAD_CANCEL_ENABLE;
+  result->canceltype = PTHREAD_CANCEL_DEFERRED;
   result->cleanup = NULL;
   result->setup_failed = 0;
 
diff --git a/nptl/cancellation.c b/nptl/cancellation.c
index ce00603109..05962784d5 100644
--- a/nptl/cancellation.c
+++ b/nptl/cancellation.c
@@ -31,31 +31,19 @@ int
 __pthread_enable_asynccancel (void)
 {
   struct pthread *self = THREAD_SELF;
-  int oldval = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cancelhandling);
 
-  while (1)
-    {
-      int newval = oldval | CANCELTYPE_BITMASK;
-
-      if (newval == oldval)
-	break;
-
-      int curval = THREAD_ATOMIC_CMPXCHG_VAL (self, cancelhandling, newval,
-					      oldval);
-      if (__glibc_likely (curval == oldval))
-	{
-	  if (self->cancelstate == PTHREAD_CANCEL_ENABLE
-	      && CANCEL_CANCELED_AND_ASYNCHRONOUS (newval))
-	    {
-	      THREAD_SETMEM (self, result, PTHREAD_CANCELED);
-	      __do_cancel ();
-	    }
+  int oldval = THREAD_GETMEM (self, canceltype);
+  THREAD_SETMEM (self, canceltype, PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS);
 
-	  break;
-	}
+  int ch = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cancelhandling);
 
-      /* Prepare the next round.  */
-      oldval = curval;
+  if (self->cancelstate == PTHREAD_CANCEL_ENABLE
+      && (ch & CANCELED_BITMASK)
+      && !(ch & EXITING_BITMASK)
+      && !(ch & TERMINATED_BITMASK))
+    {
+      THREAD_SETMEM (self, result, PTHREAD_CANCELED);
+      __do_cancel ();
     }
 
   return oldval;
@@ -69,25 +57,10 @@ __pthread_disable_asynccancel (int oldtype)
 {
   /* If asynchronous cancellation was enabled before we do not have
      anything to do.  */
-  if (oldtype & CANCELTYPE_BITMASK)
+  if (oldtype == PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS)
     return;
 
   struct pthread *self = THREAD_SELF;
-  int newval;
-
-  int oldval = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cancelhandling);
-
-  while (1)
-    {
-      newval = oldval & ~CANCELTYPE_BITMASK;
-
-      int curval = THREAD_ATOMIC_CMPXCHG_VAL (self, cancelhandling, newval,
-					      oldval);
-      if (__glibc_likely (curval == oldval))
-	break;
-
-      /* Prepare the next round.  */
-      oldval = curval;
-    }
+  self->canceltype = PTHREAD_CANCEL_DEFERRED;
 }
 libc_hidden_def (__pthread_disable_asynccancel)
diff --git a/nptl/cleanup_defer.c b/nptl/cleanup_defer.c
index 873ab007fd..7e858d0df0 100644
--- a/nptl/cleanup_defer.c
+++ b/nptl/cleanup_defer.c
@@ -31,27 +31,9 @@ ___pthread_register_cancel_defer (__pthread_unwind_buf_t *buf)
   ibuf->priv.data.prev = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cleanup_jmp_buf);
   ibuf->priv.data.cleanup = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cleanup);
 
-  int cancelhandling = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cancelhandling);
-
   /* Disable asynchronous cancellation for now.  */
-  if (__glibc_unlikely (cancelhandling & CANCELTYPE_BITMASK))
-    while (1)
-      {
-	int curval = THREAD_ATOMIC_CMPXCHG_VAL (self, cancelhandling,
-						cancelhandling
-						& ~CANCELTYPE_BITMASK,
-						cancelhandling);
-	if (__glibc_likely (curval == cancelhandling))
-	  /* Successfully replaced the value.  */
-	  break;
-
-	/* Prepare for the next round.  */
-	cancelhandling = curval;
-      }
-
-  ibuf->priv.data.canceltype = (cancelhandling & CANCELTYPE_BITMASK
-				? PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS
-				: PTHREAD_CANCEL_DEFERRED);
+  ibuf->priv.data.canceltype = THREAD_GETMEM (self, canceltype);
+  THREAD_SETMEM (self, canceltype, PTHREAD_CANCEL_DEFERRED);
 
   /* Store the new cleanup handler info.  */
   THREAD_SETMEM (self, cleanup_jmp_buf, (struct pthread_unwind_buf *) buf);
@@ -73,27 +55,9 @@ ___pthread_unregister_cancel_restore (__pthread_unwind_buf_t *buf)
 
   THREAD_SETMEM (self, cleanup_jmp_buf, ibuf->priv.data.prev);
 
-  int cancelhandling;
-  if (ibuf->priv.data.canceltype != PTHREAD_CANCEL_DEFERRED
-      && ((cancelhandling = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cancelhandling))
-	  & CANCELTYPE_BITMASK) == 0)
-    {
-      while (1)
-	{
-	  int curval = THREAD_ATOMIC_CMPXCHG_VAL (self, cancelhandling,
-						  cancelhandling
-						  | CANCELTYPE_BITMASK,
-						  cancelhandling);
-	  if (__glibc_likely (curval == cancelhandling))
-	    /* Successfully replaced the value.  */
-	    break;
-
-	  /* Prepare for the next round.  */
-	  cancelhandling = curval;
-	}
-
-      __pthread_testcancel ();
-    }
+  THREAD_SETMEM (self, canceltype, ibuf->priv.data.canceltype);
+  if (ibuf->priv.data.canceltype == PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS)
+    __pthread_testcancel ();
 }
 versioned_symbol (libc, ___pthread_unregister_cancel_restore,
 		  __pthread_unregister_cancel_restore, GLIBC_2_34);
diff --git a/nptl/descr.h b/nptl/descr.h
index a3084fdf60..04476b3f4e 100644
--- a/nptl/descr.h
+++ b/nptl/descr.h
@@ -277,9 +277,6 @@ struct pthread
 
   /* Flags determining processing of cancellation.  */
   int cancelhandling;
-  /* Bit set if asynchronous cancellation mode is selected.  */
-#define CANCELTYPE_BIT		1
-#define CANCELTYPE_BITMASK	(0x01 << CANCELTYPE_BIT)
   /* Bit set if canceled.  */
 #define CANCELED_BIT		3
 #define CANCELED_BITMASK	(0x01 << CANCELED_BIT)
@@ -292,13 +289,6 @@ struct pthread
   /* Bit set if thread is supposed to change XID.  */
 #define SETXID_BIT		6
 #define SETXID_BITMASK		(0x01 << SETXID_BIT)
-  /* Mask for the rest.  Helps the compiler to optimize.  */
-#define CANCEL_RESTMASK		0xffffff80
-
-#define CANCEL_CANCELED_AND_ASYNCHRONOUS(value) \
-  (((value) & (CANCELTYPE_BITMASK | CANCELED_BITMASK    \
-	       | EXITING_BITMASK | CANCEL_RESTMASK | TERMINATED_BITMASK))     \
-   == (CANCELTYPE_BITMASK | CANCELED_BITMASK))
 
   /* Flags.  Including those copied from the thread attribute.  */
   int flags;
@@ -405,6 +395,10 @@ struct pthread
      PTHREAD_CANCEL_DISABLE).  */
   unsigned char cancelstate;
 
+  /* Thread cancel type (PTHREAD_CANCEL_DEFERRED or
+     PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS).  */
+  unsigned char canceltype;
+
   /* This member must be last.  */
   char end_padding[];
 
diff --git a/nptl/libc-cleanup.c b/nptl/libc-cleanup.c
index 6286b8b525..180d15bc9e 100644
--- a/nptl/libc-cleanup.c
+++ b/nptl/libc-cleanup.c
@@ -27,27 +27,9 @@ __libc_cleanup_push_defer (struct _pthread_cleanup_buffer *buffer)
 
   buffer->__prev = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cleanup);
 
-  int cancelhandling = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cancelhandling);
-
   /* Disable asynchronous cancellation for now.  */
-  if (__glibc_unlikely (cancelhandling & CANCELTYPE_BITMASK))
-    while (1)
-      {
-	int curval = THREAD_ATOMIC_CMPXCHG_VAL (self, cancelhandling,
-						cancelhandling
-						& ~CANCELTYPE_BITMASK,
-						cancelhandling);
-	if (__glibc_likely (curval == cancelhandling))
-	  /* Successfully replaced the value.  */
-	  break;
-
-	/* Prepare for the next round.  */
-	cancelhandling = curval;
-      }
-
-  buffer->__canceltype = (cancelhandling & CANCELTYPE_BITMASK
-			  ? PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS
-			  : PTHREAD_CANCEL_DEFERRED);
+  buffer->__canceltype = THREAD_GETMEM (self, canceltype);
+  THREAD_SETMEM (self, canceltype, PTHREAD_CANCEL_DEFERRED);
 
   THREAD_SETMEM (self, cleanup, buffer);
 }
@@ -60,26 +42,8 @@ __libc_cleanup_pop_restore (struct _pthread_cleanup_buffer *buffer)
 
   THREAD_SETMEM (self, cleanup, buffer->__prev);
 
-  int cancelhandling;
-  if (__builtin_expect (buffer->__canceltype != PTHREAD_CANCEL_DEFERRED, 0)
-      && ((cancelhandling = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cancelhandling))
-	  & CANCELTYPE_BITMASK) == 0)
-    {
-      while (1)
-	{
-	  int curval = THREAD_ATOMIC_CMPXCHG_VAL (self, cancelhandling,
-						  cancelhandling
-						  | CANCELTYPE_BITMASK,
-						  cancelhandling);
-	  if (__glibc_likely (curval == cancelhandling))
-	    /* Successfully replaced the value.  */
-	    break;
-
-	  /* Prepare for the next round.  */
-	  cancelhandling = curval;
-	}
-
+  THREAD_SETMEM (self, canceltype, buffer->__canceltype);
+  if (buffer->__canceltype == PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS)
       __pthread_testcancel ();
-    }
 }
 libc_hidden_def (__libc_cleanup_pop_restore)
diff --git a/nptl/pthread_cancel.c b/nptl/pthread_cancel.c
index 0588f086a8..3be3d0fce7 100644
--- a/nptl/pthread_cancel.c
+++ b/nptl/pthread_cancel.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ sigcancel_handler (int sig, siginfo_t *si, void *ctx)
   /* Set the return value.  */
   THREAD_SETMEM (self, result, PTHREAD_CANCELED);
   /* Make sure asynchronous cancellation is still enabled.  */
-  if ((ch & CANCELTYPE_BITMASK) != 0)
+  if (self->canceltype == PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS)
     __do_cancel ();
 }
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ __pthread_cancel (pthread_t th)
 #endif
 
       THREAD_SETMEM (pd, result, PTHREAD_CANCELED);
-      if ((oldch & CANCELTYPE_BITMASK) != 0)
+      if (pd->canceltype == PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS)
         __do_cancel ();
       return 0;
     }
diff --git a/nptl/pthread_setcanceltype.c b/nptl/pthread_setcanceltype.c
index ae5df1d591..e7b24ae733 100644
--- a/nptl/pthread_setcanceltype.c
+++ b/nptl/pthread_setcanceltype.c
@@ -29,43 +29,11 @@ __pthread_setcanceltype (int type, int *oldtype)
 
   volatile struct pthread *self = THREAD_SELF;
 
-  int oldval = THREAD_GETMEM (self, cancelhandling);
-  while (1)
-    {
-      int newval = (type == PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS
-		    ? oldval | CANCELTYPE_BITMASK
-		    : oldval & ~CANCELTYPE_BITMASK);
-
-      /* Store the old value.  */
-      if (oldtype != NULL)
-	*oldtype = ((oldval & CANCELTYPE_BITMASK)
-		    ? PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS : PTHREAD_CANCEL_DEFERRED);
-
-      /* Avoid doing unnecessary work.  The atomic operation can
-	 potentially be expensive if the memory has to be locked and
-	 remote cache lines have to be invalidated.  */
-      if (oldval == newval)
-	break;
-
-      /* Update the cancel handling word.  This has to be done
-	 atomically since other bits could be modified as well.  */
-      int curval = THREAD_ATOMIC_CMPXCHG_VAL (self, cancelhandling, newval,
-					      oldval);
-      if (__glibc_likely (curval == oldval))
-	{
-	  if (self->cancelstate == PTHREAD_CANCEL_ENABLE
-	      && CANCEL_CANCELED_AND_ASYNCHRONOUS (newval))
-	    {
-	      THREAD_SETMEM (self, result, PTHREAD_CANCELED);
-	      __do_cancel ();
-	    }
-
-	  break;
-	}
-
-      /* Prepare for the next round.  */
-      oldval = curval;
-    }
+  if (oldtype != NULL)
+    *oldtype = self->canceltype;
+  self->canceltype = type;
+  if (type == PTHREAD_CANCEL_ASYNCHRONOUS)
+    __pthread_testcancel ();
 
   return 0;
 }
