diff --git a/github/github.go b/github/github.go
index 7cdd73eb25e..ebb56605e4f 100644
--- a/github/github.go
+++ b/github/github.go
@@ -801,7 +801,11 @@ func parseTokenExpiration(r *http.Response) Timestamp {
 type requestContext uint8
 
 const (
-	bypassRateLimitCheck requestContext = iota
+	// BypassRateLimitCheck prevents a pre-emptive check for exceeded primary rate limits
+	// Specify this by providing a context with this key, e.g.
+	//   context.WithValue(context.Background(), github.BypassRateLimitCheck, true)
+	BypassRateLimitCheck requestContext = iota
+
 	SleepUntilPrimaryRateLimitResetWhenRateLimited
 )
 
@@ -822,7 +826,7 @@ func (c *Client) BareDo(ctx context.Context, req *http.Request) (*Response, erro
 
 	rateLimitCategory := GetRateLimitCategory(req.Method, req.URL.Path)
 
-	if bypass := ctx.Value(bypassRateLimitCheck); bypass == nil {
+	if bypass := ctx.Value(BypassRateLimitCheck); bypass == nil {
 		// If we've hit rate limit, don't make further requests before Reset time.
 		if err := c.checkRateLimitBeforeDo(req, rateLimitCategory); err != nil {
 			return &Response{
diff --git a/github/github_test.go b/github/github_test.go
index 43c9bde4f82..f2957242d78 100644
--- a/github/github_test.go
+++ b/github/github_test.go
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ func testNewRequestAndDoFailureCategory(t *testing.T, methodName string, client
 	client.BaseURL.Path = "/api-v3/"
 	client.rateLimits[category].Reset.Time = time.Now().Add(10 * time.Minute)
 	resp, err = f()
-	if bypass := resp.Request.Context().Value(bypassRateLimitCheck); bypass != nil {
+	if bypass := resp.Request.Context().Value(BypassRateLimitCheck); bypass != nil {
 		return
 	}
 	if want := http.StatusForbidden; resp == nil || resp.Response.StatusCode != want {
diff --git a/github/rate_limit.go b/github/rate_limit.go
index 5b01b573d8a..d55c545e7a5 100644
--- a/github/rate_limit.go
+++ b/github/rate_limit.go
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func (s *RateLimitService) Get(ctx context.Context) (*RateLimits, *Response, err
 	})
 
 	// This resource is not subject to rate limits.
-	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, bypassRateLimitCheck, true)
+	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, BypassRateLimitCheck, true)
 	resp, err := s.client.Do(ctx, req, response)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, resp, err