diff --git a/collects/scribblings/reference/futures.scrbl b/collects/scribblings/reference/futures.scrbl
index ea86731749..f0a2a8e149 100644
--- a/collects/scribblings/reference/futures.scrbl
+++ b/collects/scribblings/reference/futures.scrbl
@@ -94,21 +94,28 @@ parallel. See also @guidesecref["effective-futures"] in @|Guide|.
 
 @defproc[(make-fsemaphore [init exact-nonnegative-integer?]) fsemaphore?]{
 
-  Creates and returns a new semaphore with the counter initially set to
-  @racket[init].
+  Creates and returns a new @deftech{future semaphore} with the
+  counter initially set to @racket[init].
+
+  A future semaphore is similar to a plain @tech{semaphore}, but
+  future-semaphore operations can be performed safely in parallel (to synchronize
+  parallel computations). In contrast, operations on plain @tech{semaphores}
+  are not safe to perform in parallel, and they therefore prevent
+  a computation from continuing in parallel.
 
 }
 
 @defproc[(fsemaphore? [v any/c]) boolean?]{
 
-  Returns @racket[#t] if @racket[v] is an fsemaphore value, @racket[#f]
-  otherwise.
+  Returns @racket[#t] if @racket[v] is an @tech{future semaphore}
+  value, @racket[#f] otherwise.
 
 }
 
 @defproc[(fsemaphore-post [fsema fsemaphore?]) void?]{
 
-  Increments the semaphore's internal counter and returns @|void-const|.
+  Increments the @tech{future semaphore}'s internal counter and
+  returns @|void-const|.
 
 }
 
diff --git a/collects/tests/future/future.rkt b/collects/tests/future/future.rkt
index a9dec5c0e0..5fb94ad10a 100644
--- a/collects/tests/future/future.rkt
+++ b/collects/tests/future/future.rkt
@@ -347,6 +347,7 @@ We should also test deep continuations.
                      (fsemaphore-post m) 
                      #t))])
   (sleep 1) 
+  (check-equal? #t (touch f2))
   (check-equal? 42 (touch f1)) 
   (check-equal? 0 (fsemaphore-count m)))
 
@@ -360,6 +361,7 @@ We should also test deep continuations.
                      #t))] 
        [f2 (future (λ () 
                      (fsemaphore-post m2) 
+                     (touch f1)
                      (fsemaphore-wait m1) 
                      (set! dummy (add1 dummy)) 
                      dummy))]) 
@@ -392,7 +394,7 @@ We should also test deep continuations.
                        (fsemaphore-post m) 
                        (car retval))))])    
   (sleep 1)
-  (touch f1)
+  (thread (lambda () (touch f1)))
   (check-equal? 1 (touch f2)))
 
 (let* ([m (make-fsemaphore 0)] 
@@ -408,7 +410,7 @@ We should also test deep continuations.
   (fsemaphore-post m)
   (check-equal? 42 (touch f1)) 
   (check-equal? 99 (touch f2)))
-                     
+
 (let* ([m (make-fsemaphore 0)]
        [fs (for/list ([i (in-range 0 19)]) 
              (future (λ () 
diff --git a/src/racket/src/future.c b/src/racket/src/future.c
index ac86496e4b..ffba0ffb74 100644
--- a/src/racket/src/future.c
+++ b/src/racket/src/future.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ typedef struct future_t {
 
 typedef struct fsemaphore_t {
   Scheme_Object so;
-  int ready;
+  Scheme_Object *sema;
 } fsemaphore_t;
 
 Scheme_Object *scheme_future(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[])
@@ -155,14 +155,16 @@ Scheme_Object *scheme_current_future(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[])
 
 Scheme_Object *scheme_make_fsemaphore(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[])
 {
+  intptr_t v;
   fsemaphore_t *fsema;
-
-  if (argc != 1 || !SCHEME_INTP(argv[0])) 
-    scheme_wrong_type("make-fsemaphore", "exact integer", 0, argc, &(argv[0]));
+  Scheme_Object *sema;
+  
+  v = scheme_get_semaphore_init("make-fsemaphore", argc, argv);
 
   fsema = MALLOC_ONE_TAGGED(fsemaphore_t);
   fsema->so.type = scheme_fsemaphore_type;
-  fsema->ready = SCHEME_INT_VAL(argv[0]); 
+  sema = scheme_make_sema(v);
+  fsema->sema = sema;
 
   return (Scheme_Object*)fsema;
 }
@@ -174,7 +176,7 @@ Scheme_Object *scheme_fsemaphore_post(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[])
     scheme_wrong_type("fsemaphore-post", "fsemaphore", 0, argc, argv);
 
   fsema = (fsemaphore_t*)argv[0];
-  fsema->ready++;
+  scheme_post_sema(fsema->sema);
 
   return scheme_void;
 }
@@ -186,11 +188,8 @@ Scheme_Object *scheme_fsemaphore_wait(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[])
     scheme_wrong_type("fsemaphore-wait", "fsemaphore", 0, argc, argv);
 
   fsema = (fsemaphore_t*)argv[0];
-  /* If 0, raise an error */
-  if (!fsema->ready)
-    scheme_signal_error("fsemaphore-wait: attempted to wait on a semaphore with a 0 count");
+  scheme_wait_sema(fsema->sema, 0);
 
-  fsema->ready--;
   return scheme_void;
 }
 
@@ -201,7 +200,7 @@ Scheme_Object *scheme_fsemaphore_try_wait(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[])
     scheme_wrong_type("fsemaphore-try-wait?", "fsemaphore", 0, argc, argv);
 
   fsema = (fsemaphore_t*)argv[0];
-  if (fsema->ready)
+  if (scheme_wait_sema(fsema->sema, 1))
     return scheme_true;
 
   return scheme_false;
@@ -214,7 +213,7 @@ Scheme_Object *scheme_fsemaphore_count(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[])
     scheme_wrong_type("fsemaphore-count", "fsemaphore", 0, argc, argv);
 
   fsema = (fsemaphore_t*)argv[0];
-  return scheme_make_integer(fsema->ready);
+  return scheme_make_integer(((Scheme_Sema *)fsema->sema)->value);
 }
 
 # define FUTURE_PRIM_W_ARITY(name, func, a1, a2, env) GLOBAL_PRIM_W_ARITY(name, func, a1, a2, env)
@@ -846,29 +845,13 @@ void fsemaphore_finalize(void *p, void *data)
   mzrt_mutex_destroy(sema->mut);
 }
 
-Scheme_Object *scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(int argc, Scheme_Object *ready)
+Scheme_Object *scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(Scheme_Object *ready)
 /* Called in runtime thread */
 {
   fsemaphore_t *sema;
   intptr_t v;
 
-  /* Input validation */ 
-  if (argc == 1) { 
-    if (!SCHEME_INTP(ready)) { 
-      if (!SCHEME_BIGNUMP(ready) || !SCHEME_BIGPOS(ready)) 
-        scheme_wrong_type("make-fsemaphore", "non-negative exact integer", 0, argc, &ready);
-    }
-
-    if (!scheme_get_int_val(ready, &v)) { 
-      scheme_raise_exn(MZEXN_FAIL, 
-                        "make-fsemaphore: starting value %s is too large", 
-                        scheme_make_provided_string(ready, 0, NULL));
-    } else if (v < 0) { 
-      scheme_wrong_type("make-fsemaphore", "non-negative exact integer", 0, argc, &ready);
-    }
-  } else { 
-    scheme_wrong_type("make-fsemaphore", "non-negative exact integer", 0, argc, &ready);
-  }
+  v = scheme_get_semaphore_init("make-fsemaphore", 1, &ready);
 
   sema = MALLOC_ONE_TAGGED(fsemaphore_t);
   sema->so.type = scheme_fsemaphore_type;
@@ -885,12 +868,7 @@ Scheme_Object *scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(int argc, Scheme_Object *ready)
 Scheme_Object *make_fsemaphore(int argc, Scheme_Object **argv)
   /* Called in runtime thread (atomic/synchronized) */
 {
-  Scheme_Object *arg;
-  Scheme_Object *semaObj;
-
-  arg = argv[0];
-  semaObj = scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(argc, arg);
-  return semaObj;
+  return scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(argv[0]);
 }
 
 Scheme_Object *scheme_fsemaphore_count(int argc, Scheme_Object **argv)
@@ -1851,7 +1829,7 @@ void scheme_rtcall_void_void_3args(const char *who, int src_type, prim_void_void
   future->arg_S0 = NULL;
 }
 
-Scheme_Object *scheme_rtcall_make_fsemaphore(const char *who, int src_type, int argc, Scheme_Object *ready)
+Scheme_Object *scheme_rtcall_make_fsemaphore(const char *who, int src_type, Scheme_Object *ready)
   XFORM_SKIP_PROC
 /* Called in future thread */
 {
@@ -1860,7 +1838,6 @@ Scheme_Object *scheme_rtcall_make_fsemaphore(const char *who, int src_type, int
   future_t *future = fts->thread->current_ft;
   
   future->prim_protocol = SIG_MAKE_FSEMAPHORE;
-  future->arg_i0 = argc;
   future->arg_s1 = ready;
   future->time_of_request = scheme_get_inexact_milliseconds();
   future->source_of_request = who;
@@ -2131,14 +2108,14 @@ static void do_invoke_rtcall(Scheme_Future_State *fs, future_t *future)
         scheme_new_mark_segment(p_seg);
         break;
       }
-	case SIG_MAKE_FSEMAPHORE: 
-	  {
-		Scheme_Object *ret; 
-		ret = scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(future->arg_i0, future->arg_s1);
-		future->retval_s = ret;
-		future->arg_s0 = NULL;
-		break;
-	  }
+    case SIG_MAKE_FSEMAPHORE: 
+      {
+        Scheme_Object *s = future->arg_s1; 
+        future->arg_s0 = NULL;
+        s = scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(s);
+        future->retval_s = s;
+        break;
+      }
     case SIG_ALLOC_VALUES:
       {
         prim_allocate_values_t func = (prim_allocate_values_t)future->prim_func;
diff --git a/src/racket/src/future.h b/src/racket/src/future.h
index 0eda415f05..a8b4581fd0 100644
--- a/src/racket/src/future.h
+++ b/src/racket/src/future.h
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ typedef struct fsemaphore_t {
 #define SIG_ALLOC              2
 #define SIG_ALLOC_MARK_SEGMENT 3
 #define SIG_ALLOC_VALUES       4
-#define SIG_MAKE_FSEMAPHORE	   5
+#define SIG_MAKE_FSEMAPHORE    5
 #define SIG_WRONG_TYPE_EXN     200
 
 # include "jit_ts_protos.h"
@@ -164,8 +164,7 @@ extern uintptr_t scheme_rtcall_alloc(const char *who, int src_type);
 extern void scheme_rtcall_new_mark_segment(Scheme_Thread *p);
 extern void scheme_rtcall_allocate_values(const char *who, int src_type, int count, Scheme_Thread *t, 
                                           prim_allocate_values_t f);
-extern Scheme_Object *scheme_rtcall_make_fsemaphore(const char *who, int src_type, 
-                                                    int argc, Scheme_Object *ready);
+extern Scheme_Object *scheme_rtcall_make_fsemaphore(const char *who, int src_type, Scheme_Object *ready);
 #else 
 
 #define IS_WORKER_THREAD 0
@@ -199,8 +198,7 @@ Scheme_Object *scheme_current_future(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[]);
 Scheme_Object *scheme_fsemaphore_p(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[]);
 
 Scheme_Object *scheme_fsemaphore_count(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[]);
-//Scheme_Object *scheme_make_fsemaphore(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[]);
-Scheme_Object *scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(int argc, Scheme_Object *ready);
+Scheme_Object *scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(Scheme_Object *ready);
 Scheme_Object *scheme_fsemaphore_wait(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[]);
 Scheme_Object *scheme_fsemaphore_post(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[]);
 Scheme_Object *scheme_fsemaphore_try_wait(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[]);
diff --git a/src/racket/src/jit.c b/src/racket/src/jit.c
index 984e4f37e6..4747e935c3 100644
--- a/src/racket/src/jit.c
+++ b/src/racket/src/jit.c
@@ -2948,14 +2948,14 @@ static void ts_on_demand(void) XFORM_SKIP_PROC
     on_demand();
 }
 
-static Scheme_Object *ts_make_fsemaphore(int argc, Scheme_Object *ready) 
+static Scheme_Object *ts_make_fsemaphore(int argc, Scheme_Object **argv) 
   XFORM_SKIP_PROC
 {
   if (scheme_use_rtcall) { 
-    return scheme_rtcall_make_fsemaphore("[make_fsemaphore]", FSRC_OTHER, argc, ready);
+    return scheme_rtcall_make_fsemaphore("[make_fsemaphore]", FSRC_OTHER, argv[0]);
   } 
   
-  return scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(argc, ready);
+  return scheme_make_fsemaphore_inl(argv[0]);
 }
 
 #ifdef MZ_PRECISE_GC
@@ -7504,10 +7504,17 @@ static int generate_inlined_unary(mz_jit_state *jitter, Scheme_App2_Rec *app, in
       generate_inlined_type_test(jitter, app, scheme_future_type, scheme_future_type, 1, for_branch, branch_short, need_sync);
       return 1;
     } else if (IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "fsemaphore?")) { 
-      GC_CAN_IGNORE jit_insn *refcont, *ref1, *ref2, *ref3;
       generate_inlined_type_test(jitter, app, scheme_fsemaphore_type, scheme_fsemaphore_type, 1, for_branch, branch_short, need_sync);
       return 1;
-    } else if (IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "fsemaphore-count")) { 
+    } else if (IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "fsemaphore-count")
+               || IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "make-fsemaphore")
+               || IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "fsemaphore-post")
+               || IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "fsemaphore-wait")
+               || IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "fsemaphore-try-wait?")) {
+      /* Inline calls to future functions that specially support
+         running in the future thread: */
+      GC_CAN_IGNORE jit_insn *refr;
+
       mz_runstack_skipped(jitter, 1);
       generate_non_tail(app->rand, jitter, 0, 1, 0);
       CHECK_LIMIT();
@@ -7520,112 +7527,22 @@ static int generate_inlined_unary(mz_jit_state *jitter, Scheme_App2_Rec *app, in
       mz_pushr_p(JIT_R0);
       mz_rs_sync();
       JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
-
-      mz_prepare(2);
-      jit_pusharg_p(JIT_RUNSTACK); /* Same as push (JIT_V1) */
-      jit_movi_i(JIT_R0, 1);
-      jit_pusharg_i(JIT_R0);
-
-      mz_finish(scheme_fsemaphore_count);
-      mz_popr_x();
-      jit_retval(JIT_R0);
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
-
-      return 1;
-    } else if (IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "make-fsemaphore")) { 
-     
-      mz_runstack_skipped(jitter, 1); 
-      generate_non_tail(app->rand, jitter, 0, 1, 0);
       CHECK_LIMIT();
-      mz_runstack_unskipped(jitter, 1);
-
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
-     
-      mz_prepare(2);
-      jit_pusharg_p(JIT_R0);
-      jit_movi_i(JIT_R0, 1);
-      jit_pusharg_i(JIT_R0);
-      mz_finish(ts_make_fsemaphore);
-      jit_retval(JIT_R0);
-     
-      return 1;
-    } else if (IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "fsemaphore-post")) { 
-      GC_CAN_IGNORE jit_insn *refr;
-      mz_runstack_skipped(jitter, 1);
-      generate_non_tail(app->rand, jitter, 0, 1, 0);
-      CHECK_LIMIT();
-      mz_runstack_unskipped(jitter, 1);
-
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
-
-      mz_pushr_p(JIT_R0);
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
 
       mz_prepare(2);
       jit_pusharg_p(JIT_RUNSTACK);
       jit_movi_i(JIT_R0, 1);
       jit_pusharg_i(JIT_R0);
 
-      (void)mz_finish_lwe(scheme_fsemaphore_post, refr);
-      mz_popr_x();
+      if (IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "make-fsemaphore"))
+        (void)mz_finish_lwe(ts_make_fsemaphore, refr);
+      else
+        (void)mz_finish_lwe(((Scheme_Primitive_Proc *)rator)->prim_val, refr);
+
       jit_retval(JIT_R0);
 
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
-      return 1;
-    } else if (IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "fsemaphore-wait")) { 
-      GC_CAN_IGNORE jit_insn *refr;
-      mz_runstack_skipped(jitter, 1);
-      generate_non_tail(app->rand, jitter, 0, 1, 0);
-      CHECK_LIMIT();
-      mz_runstack_unskipped(jitter, 1);
+      mz_popr_x(); /* remove arg */
 
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
-
-      mz_pushr_p(JIT_R0);
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
-
-      mz_prepare(2);
-      jit_pusharg_p(JIT_RUNSTACK);
-      jit_movi_i(JIT_R0, 1);
-      jit_pusharg_i(JIT_R0);
-
-      (void)mz_finish_lwe(scheme_fsemaphore_wait, refr);
-
-      mz_popr_x();
-      jit_retval(JIT_R0);
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
-      return 1;
-    } else if (IS_NAMED_PRIM(rator, "fsemaphore-try-wait?")) { 
-      mz_runstack_skipped(jitter, 1);
-      generate_non_tail(app->rand, jitter, 0, 1, 0);
-      CHECK_LIMIT();
-      mz_runstack_unskipped(jitter, 1);
-
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
-
-      mz_pushr_p(JIT_R0);
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
-
-      mz_prepare(2);
-      jit_pusharg_p(JIT_RUNSTACK);
-      jit_movi_i(JIT_R0, 1);
-      jit_pusharg_i(JIT_R0);
-      mz_finish(scheme_fsemaphore_try_wait);
-      mz_popr_x();
-      jit_retval(JIT_R0);
-      
-      mz_rs_sync();
-      JIT_UPDATE_THREAD_RSPTR_IF_NEEDED();
       return 1;
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/racket/src/mzmark.c b/src/racket/src/mzmark.c
index f32609b521..37cef6f0ef 100644
--- a/src/racket/src/mzmark.c
+++ b/src/racket/src/mzmark.c
@@ -5817,16 +5817,20 @@ static int sequential_fsemaphore_SIZE(void *p, struct NewGC *gc) {
 }
 
 static int sequential_fsemaphore_MARK(void *p, struct NewGC *gc) {
+    fsemaphore_t *s = (fsemaphore_t*)p;
+    gcMARK2(s->sema, gc);
   return
     gcBYTES_TO_WORDS(sizeof(fsemaphore_t));
 }
 
 static int sequential_fsemaphore_FIXUP(void *p, struct NewGC *gc) {
+    fsemaphore_t *s = (fsemaphore_t*)p;
+    gcFIXUP2(s->sema, gc);
   return
     gcBYTES_TO_WORDS(sizeof(fsemaphore_t));
 }
 
-#define sequential_fsemaphore_IS_ATOMIC 1
+#define sequential_fsemaphore_IS_ATOMIC 0
 #define sequential_fsemaphore_IS_CONST_SIZE 1
 
 
diff --git a/src/racket/src/mzmarksrc.c b/src/racket/src/mzmarksrc.c
index 1fd7bb4a12..602f366611 100644
--- a/src/racket/src/mzmarksrc.c
+++ b/src/racket/src/mzmarksrc.c
@@ -2385,6 +2385,8 @@ sequential_future {
 
 sequential_fsemaphore {
  mark:
+    fsemaphore_t *s = (fsemaphore_t*)p;
+    gcMARK2(s->sema, gc);
  size:
     gcBYTES_TO_WORDS(sizeof(fsemaphore_t));
 }
diff --git a/src/racket/src/schpriv.h b/src/racket/src/schpriv.h
index 7c8dfb1e16..b7f795bd18 100644
--- a/src/racket/src/schpriv.h
+++ b/src/racket/src/schpriv.h
@@ -1604,6 +1604,8 @@ void scheme_post_syncing_nacks(Syncing *syncing);
 int scheme_try_channel_get(Scheme_Object *ch);
 int scheme_try_channel_put(Scheme_Object *ch, Scheme_Object *v);
 
+intptr_t scheme_get_semaphore_init(const char *who, int n, Scheme_Object **p);
+
 /*========================================================================*/
 /*                                 numbers                                */
 /*========================================================================*/
diff --git a/src/racket/src/sema.c b/src/racket/src/sema.c
index 0953a3117e..9f01c23eae 100644
--- a/src/racket/src/sema.c
+++ b/src/racket/src/sema.c
@@ -223,25 +223,33 @@ Scheme_Object *scheme_make_sema(intptr_t v)
   return (Scheme_Object *)sema;
 }
 
-static Scheme_Object *make_sema(int n, Scheme_Object **p)
+intptr_t scheme_get_semaphore_init(const char *who, int n, Scheme_Object **p)
 {
   intptr_t v;
 
   if (n) {
     if (!SCHEME_INTP(p[0])) {
       if (!SCHEME_BIGNUMP(p[0]) || !SCHEME_BIGPOS(p[0]))
-	scheme_wrong_type("make-semaphore", "non-negative exact integer", 0, n, p);
+	scheme_wrong_type(who, "non-negative exact integer", 0, n, p);
     }
 
     if (!scheme_get_int_val(p[0], &v)) {
       scheme_raise_exn(MZEXN_FAIL,
-		       "make-semaphore: starting value %s is too large",
+		       "%s: starting value %s is too large",
+                       who,
 		       scheme_make_provided_string(p[0], 0, NULL));
     } else if (v < 0)
-      scheme_wrong_type("make-semaphore", "non-negative exact integer", 0, n, p);
+      scheme_wrong_type(who, "non-negative exact integer", 0, n, p);
   } else
     v = 0;
+  
+  return v;
+}
 
+static Scheme_Object *make_sema(int n, Scheme_Object **p)
+{
+  intptr_t v;
+  v = scheme_get_semaphore_init("make-semaphore", n, p);
   return scheme_make_sema(v);
 }