diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread.h b/sched/pthread/pthread.h
index 14a5797bb82..96fb66b8d90 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread.h
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread.h
@@ -107,8 +107,12 @@ void pthread_destroyjoin(FAR struct task_group_s *group,
 FAR struct join_s *pthread_findjoininfo(FAR struct task_group_s *group,
                                         pid_t pid);
 void pthread_release(FAR struct task_group_s *group);
-int pthread_takesemaphore(sem_t *sem, bool intr);
-int pthread_givesemaphore(sem_t *sem);
+
+int pthread_sem_take(sem_t *sem, bool intr);
+#ifdef CONFIG_PTHREAD_MUTEX_UNSAFE
+int pthread_sem_trytake(sem_t *sem);
+#endif
+int pthread_sem_give(sem_t *sem);
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_PTHREAD_MUTEX_UNSAFE
 int pthread_mutex_take(FAR struct pthread_mutex_s *mutex, bool intr);
@@ -116,9 +120,9 @@ int pthread_mutex_trytake(FAR struct pthread_mutex_s *mutex);
 int pthread_mutex_give(FAR struct pthread_mutex_s *mutex);
 void pthread_mutex_inconsistent(FAR struct pthread_tcb_s *tcb);
 #else
-#  define pthread_mutex_take(m,i)  pthread_takesemaphore(&(m)->sem,(i))
-#  define pthread_mutex_trytake(m) sem_trywait(&(m)->sem)
-#  define pthread_mutex_give(m)    pthread_givesemaphore(&(m)->sem)
+#  define pthread_mutex_take(m,i)  pthread_sem_take(&(m)->sem,(i))
+#  define pthread_mutex_trytake(m) pthread_sem_trytake(&(m)->sem)
+#  define pthread_mutex_give(m)    pthread_sem_give(&(m)->sem)
 #endif
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_CANCELLATION_POINTS) && !defined(CONFIG_PTHREAD_MUTEX_UNSAFE)
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_completejoin.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_completejoin.c
index 6053f6c1dab..410b3b958c2 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_completejoin.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_completejoin.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ static bool pthread_notifywaiters(FAR struct join_s *pjoin)
 
       do
         {
-          status = pthread_givesemaphore(&pjoin->exit_sem);
+          status = pthread_sem_give(&pjoin->exit_sem);
           if (status == OK)
             {
               status = sem_getvalue(&pjoin->exit_sem, &ntasks_waiting);
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ static bool pthread_notifywaiters(FAR struct join_s *pjoin)
        * value.
        */
 
-      (void)pthread_takesemaphore(&pjoin->data_sem, false);
+      (void)pthread_sem_take(&pjoin->data_sem, false);
       return true;
     }
 
@@ -210,12 +210,12 @@ int pthread_completejoin(pid_t pid, FAR void *exit_value)
 
   /* First, find thread's structure in the private data set. */
 
-  (void)pthread_takesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem, false);
+  (void)pthread_sem_take(&group->tg_joinsem, false);
   pjoin = pthread_findjoininfo(group, pid);
   if (!pjoin)
     {
       serr("ERROR: Could not find join info, pid=%d\n", pid);
-      (void)pthread_givesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem);
+      (void)pthread_sem_give(&group->tg_joinsem);
       return ERROR;
     }
   else
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ int pthread_completejoin(pid_t pid, FAR void *exit_value)
        * to call pthread_destroyjoin.
        */
 
-      (void)pthread_givesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem);
+      (void)pthread_sem_give(&group->tg_joinsem);
     }
 
   return OK;
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_condbroadcast.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_condbroadcast.c
index 35427ad48a4..de637c9e1e0 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_condbroadcast.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_condbroadcast.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ int pthread_cond_broadcast(FAR pthread_cond_t *cond)
                * Only the highest priority waiting thread will get to execute
                */
 
-              ret = pthread_givesemaphore((FAR sem_t *)&cond->sem);
+              ret = pthread_sem_give((FAR sem_t *)&cond->sem);
 
               /* Increment the semaphore count (as was done by the
                * above post).
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_condsignal.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_condsignal.c
index 8936572ac5c..e5f9af31af2 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_condsignal.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_condsignal.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ int pthread_cond_signal(FAR pthread_cond_t *cond)
           if (sval < 0)
             {
               sinfo("Signalling...\n");
-              ret = pthread_givesemaphore((FAR sem_t *)&cond->sem);
+              ret = pthread_sem_give((FAR sem_t *)&cond->sem);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_condwait.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_condwait.c
index 91138215fa3..8d47d206738 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_condwait.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_condwait.c
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ int pthread_cond_wait(FAR pthread_cond_t *cond, FAR pthread_mutex_t *mutex)
 
       /* Take the semaphore */
 
-      status = pthread_takesemaphore((FAR sem_t *)&cond->sem, false);
+      status = pthread_sem_take((FAR sem_t *)&cond->sem, false);
       if (ret == OK)
         {
           /* Report the first failure that occurs */
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_create.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_create.c
index 23ebd954898..0735e5d86a9 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_create.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_create.c
@@ -177,14 +177,14 @@ static void pthread_start(void)
 
   /* Sucessfully spawned, add the pjoin to our data set. */
 
-  (void)pthread_takesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem, false);
+  (void)pthread_sem_take(&group->tg_joinsem, false);
   pthread_addjoininfo(group, pjoin);
-  (void)pthread_givesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem);
+  (void)pthread_sem_give(&group->tg_joinsem);
 
   /* Report to the spawner that we successfully started. */
 
   pjoin->started = true;
-  (void)pthread_givesemaphore(&pjoin->data_sem);
+  (void)pthread_sem_give(&pjoin->data_sem);
 
   /* The priority of this thread may have been boosted to avoid priority
    * inversion problems.  If that is the case, then drop to the correct
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ int pthread_create(FAR pthread_t *thread, FAR const pthread_attr_t *attr,
        * its join structure.
        */
 
-      (void)pthread_takesemaphore(&pjoin->data_sem, false);
+      (void)pthread_sem_take(&pjoin->data_sem, false);
 
       /* Return the thread information to the caller */
 
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_detach.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_detach.c
index 9e3d900d7ec..47e0a3b42dc 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_detach.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_detach.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ int pthread_detach(pthread_t thread)
 
   /* Find the entry associated with this pthread. */
 
-  (void)pthread_takesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem, false);
+  (void)pthread_sem_take(&group->tg_joinsem, false);
   pjoin = pthread_findjoininfo(group, (pid_t)thread);
   if (!pjoin)
     {
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ int pthread_detach(pthread_t thread)
       ret = OK;
     }
 
-  (void)pthread_givesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem);
+  (void)pthread_sem_give(&group->tg_joinsem);
 
   sinfo("Returning %d\n", ret);
   return ret;
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_initialize.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_initialize.c
index e5965d8b60d..2054f109cbc 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_initialize.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_initialize.c
@@ -72,11 +72,18 @@ void pthread_initialize(void)
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************
- * Name: pthread_takesemaphore and pthread_givesemaphore
+ * Name: pthread_sem_take, pthread_sem_trytake, and
+ *       pthread_sem_give
  *
  * Description:
  *   Support managed access to the private data sets.
  *
+ *   REVISIT: These functions really do nothing more than match the return
+ *   value of the semaphore functions (0 or -1 with errno set) to the
+ *   return value of more pthread functions (0 or errno).  A better solution
+ *   would be to use an internal version of the semaphore functions that
+ *   return the error value in the correct form.
+ *
  * Parameters:
  *  sem  - The semaphore to lock or unlock
  *  intr - false: ignore EINTR errors when locking; true tread EINTR as
@@ -87,7 +94,7 @@ void pthread_initialize(void)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int pthread_takesemaphore(sem_t *sem, bool intr)
+int pthread_sem_take(sem_t *sem, bool intr)
 {
   /* Verify input parameters */
 
@@ -120,7 +127,27 @@ int pthread_takesemaphore(sem_t *sem, bool intr)
     }
 }
 
-int pthread_givesemaphore(sem_t *sem)
+#ifdef CONFIG_PTHREAD_MUTEX_UNSAFE
+int pthread_sem_trytake(sem_t *sem)
+{
+  int ret = EINVAL;
+
+  /* Verify input parameters */
+
+  DEBUGASSERT(sem != NULL);
+  if (sem != NULL)
+    {
+      /* Try to take the semaphore */
+
+      int status = sem_trywait(sem);
+      ret = status < 0 ? get_errno() : OK;
+    }
+
+  return ret;
+}
+#endif
+
+int pthread_sem_give(sem_t *sem)
 {
   /* Verify input parameters */
 
@@ -148,4 +175,3 @@ int pthread_givesemaphore(sem_t *sem)
       return EINVAL;
     }
 }
-
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_join.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_join.c
index 6d2b48c81a8..8e14666fbb6 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_join.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_join.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ int pthread_join(pthread_t thread, FAR pthread_addr_t *pexit_value)
    * because it will also attempt to get this semaphore.
    */
 
-  (void)pthread_takesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem, false);
+  (void)pthread_sem_take(&group->tg_joinsem, false);
 
   /* Find the join information associated with this thread.
    * This can fail for one of three reasons:  (1) There is no
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ int pthread_join(pthread_t thread, FAR pthread_addr_t *pexit_value)
           ret = EINVAL;
         }
 
-      (void)pthread_givesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem);
+      (void)pthread_sem_give(&group->tg_joinsem);
     }
   else
     {
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ int pthread_join(pthread_t thread, FAR pthread_addr_t *pexit_value)
            * semaphore.
            */
 
-          (void)pthread_givesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem);
+          (void)pthread_sem_give(&group->tg_joinsem);
 
           /* Take the thread's thread exit semaphore.  We will sleep here
            * until the thread exits.  We need to exercise caution because
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ int pthread_join(pthread_t thread, FAR pthread_addr_t *pexit_value)
            * pthread to exit.
            */
 
-          (void)pthread_takesemaphore(&pjoin->exit_sem, false);
+          (void)pthread_sem_take(&pjoin->exit_sem, false);
 
           /* The thread has exited! Get the thread exit value */
 
@@ -211,13 +211,13 @@ int pthread_join(pthread_t thread, FAR pthread_addr_t *pexit_value)
            * will know that we have received the data.
            */
 
-          (void)pthread_givesemaphore(&pjoin->data_sem);
+          (void)pthread_sem_give(&pjoin->data_sem);
 
           /* Retake the join semaphore, we need to hold this when
            * pthread_destroyjoin is called.
            */
 
-          (void)pthread_takesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem, false);
+          (void)pthread_sem_take(&group->tg_joinsem, false);
         }
 
       /* Pre-emption is okay now. The logic still cannot be re-entered
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ int pthread_join(pthread_t thread, FAR pthread_addr_t *pexit_value)
           (void)pthread_destroyjoin(group, pjoin);
         }
 
-      (void)pthread_givesemaphore(&group->tg_joinsem);
+      (void)pthread_sem_give(&group->tg_joinsem);
       ret = OK;
     }
 
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_mutex.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_mutex.c
index 45c4ffd3fa8..13dde1a53d1 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_mutex.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_mutex.c
@@ -125,11 +125,11 @@ int pthread_mutex_take(FAR struct pthread_mutex_s *mutex, bool intr)
         }
       else
         {
-          /* Take semaphore underlying the mutex.  pthread_takesemaphore
+          /* Take semaphore underlying the mutex.  pthread_sem_take
            * returns zero on success and a positive errno value on failure.
            */
 
-          ret = pthread_takesemaphore(&mutex->sem, intr);
+          ret = pthread_sem_take(&mutex->sem, intr);
           if (ret == OK)
             {
               /* Check if the holder of the mutex has terminated without
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ int pthread_mutex_give(FAR struct pthread_mutex_s *mutex)
 
       /* Now release the underlying semaphore */
 
-      ret = pthread_givesemaphore(&mutex->sem);
+      ret = pthread_sem_give(&mutex->sem);
     }
 
   return ret;
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_mutexinconsistent.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_mutexinconsistent.c
index c9d2b203711..5f8d5f9cc82 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_mutexinconsistent.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_mutexinconsistent.c
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ void pthread_mutex_inconsistent(FAR struct pthread_tcb_s *tcb)
       /* Mark the mutex as INCONSISTENT and wake up any waiting thread */
 
       mutex->flags |= _PTHREAD_MFLAGS_INCONSISTENT;
-      (void)pthread_givesemaphore(&mutex->sem);
+      (void)pthread_sem_give(&mutex->sem);
     }
 
   sched_unlock();