diff --git a/rbmutex.go b/rbmutex.go
index 0cc9e49..868b114 100644
--- a/rbmutex.go
+++ b/rbmutex.go
@@ -64,22 +64,41 @@ func NewRBMutex() *RBMutex {
 	return &mu
 }
 
-// TryRLock tries to retrieve a reader lock token via
-// the fast path or gives up returning nil.
-func (mu *RBMutex) TryRLock() *RToken {
-	if _, mux := mu.fastTryRlock(); mux != nil {
-		return mux
+// TryRLock tries to lock m for reading without blocking.
+// When TryRLock succeeds, it returns true and a reader token.
+// In case of a failure, a false is returned.
+func (mu *RBMutex) TryRLock() (bool, *RToken) {
+	if t := mu.fastRlock(); t != nil {
+		return true, t
 	}
-	return nil
+	// Optimistic slow path.
+	if mu.rw.TryRLock() {
+		if atomic.LoadInt32(&mu.rbias) == 0 && time.Now().After(mu.inhibitUntil) {
+			atomic.StoreInt32(&mu.rbias, 1)
+		}
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	return false, nil
 }
 
-// TryLock tries to acquire a write lock without blocking,
-// exposing the underlying TryLock method of sync.RWMutex.
-func (mu *RBMutex) TryLock() bool {
-	return mu.rw.TryLock()
+// RLock locks m for reading and returns a reader token. The
+// token must be used in the later RUnlock call.
+//
+// Should not be used for recursive read locking; a blocked Lock
+// call excludes new readers from acquiring the lock.
+func (mu *RBMutex) RLock() *RToken {
+	if t := mu.fastRlock(); t != nil {
+		return t
+	}
+	// Slow path.
+	mu.rw.RLock()
+	if atomic.LoadInt32(&mu.rbias) == 0 && time.Now().After(mu.inhibitUntil) {
+		atomic.StoreInt32(&mu.rbias, 1)
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (mu *RBMutex) fastTryRlock() (*rslot, *RToken) {
+func (mu *RBMutex) fastRlock() *RToken {
 	if atomic.LoadInt32(&mu.rbias) == 1 {
 		t, ok := rtokenPool.Get().(*RToken)
 		if !ok {
@@ -95,36 +114,16 @@ func (mu *RBMutex) fastTryRlock() (*rslot, *RToken) {
 				if atomic.LoadInt32(&mu.rbias) == 1 {
 					// Hot path succeeded.
 					t.slot = slot
-					return rslot, t
+					return t
 				}
+				// The mutex is no longer reader biased. Roll back.
+				atomic.AddInt32(&rslot.mu, -1)
 				rtokenPool.Put(t)
-				return rslot, nil
+				return nil
 			}
 			// Contention detected. Give a try with the next slot.
 		}
 	}
-	return nil, nil
-}
-
-// RLock locks m for reading and returns a reader token. The
-// token must be used in the later RUnlock call.
-//
-// Should not be used for recursive read locking; a blocked Lock
-// call excludes new readers from acquiring the lock.
-func (mu *RBMutex) RLock() *RToken {
-	rslot, r := mu.fastTryRlock()
-	if r != nil {
-		return r
-	}
-	if rslot != nil {
-		// The mutex is no longer reader biased. Go to the slow path.
-		atomic.AddInt32(&rslot.mu, -1)
-	}
-	// Slow path.
-	mu.rw.RLock()
-	if atomic.LoadInt32(&mu.rbias) == 0 && time.Now().After(mu.inhibitUntil) {
-		atomic.StoreInt32(&mu.rbias, 1)
-	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -143,6 +142,26 @@ func (mu *RBMutex) RUnlock(t *RToken) {
 	rtokenPool.Put(t)
 }
 
+// TryLock tries to lock m for writing without blocking.
+func (mu *RBMutex) TryLock() bool {
+	if mu.rw.TryLock() {
+		if atomic.LoadInt32(&mu.rbias) == 1 {
+			atomic.StoreInt32(&mu.rbias, 0)
+			for i := 0; i < len(mu.rslots); i++ {
+				if atomic.LoadInt32(&mu.rslots[i].mu) > 0 {
+					// There is a reader. Roll back.
+					atomic.StoreInt32(&mu.rbias, 1)
+					mu.rw.Unlock()
+					return false
+				}
+			}
+			mu.inhibitUntil = time.Now()
+		}
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // Lock locks m for writing. If the lock is already locked for
 // reading or writing, Lock blocks until the lock is available.
 func (mu *RBMutex) Lock() {
diff --git a/rbmutex_test.go b/rbmutex_test.go
index 4808578..22e0eea 100644
--- a/rbmutex_test.go
+++ b/rbmutex_test.go
@@ -15,23 +15,55 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestRBMutexSerialReader(t *testing.T) {
-	const numIters = 10
+	const numCalls = 10
 	mu := NewRBMutex()
-	var rtokens [numIters]*RToken
-	for i := 0; i < numIters; i++ {
-		rtokens[i] = mu.RLock()
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		var rtokens [numCalls]*RToken
+		for j := 0; j < numCalls; j++ {
+			rtokens[j] = mu.RLock()
+		}
+		for j := 0; j < numCalls; j++ {
+			mu.RUnlock(rtokens[j])
+		}
+	}
+}
 
+func TestRBMutexSerialOptimisticReader(t *testing.T) {
+	const numCalls = 10
+	mu := NewRBMutex()
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		var rtokens [numCalls]*RToken
+		for j := 0; j < numCalls; j++ {
+			ok, rt := mu.TryRLock()
+			if !ok {
+				t.Fatalf("TryRLock failed for %d", j)
+			}
+			if rt == nil {
+				t.Fatalf("nil reader token for %d", j)
+			}
+			rtokens[j] = rt
+		}
+		for j := 0; j < numCalls; j++ {
+			mu.RUnlock(rtokens[j])
+		}
 	}
-	for i := 0; i < numIters; i++ {
-		mu.RUnlock(rtokens[i])
+}
+
+func TestRBMutexSerialOptimisticWriter(t *testing.T) {
+	mu := NewRBMutex()
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		if !mu.TryLock() {
+			t.Fatal("TryLock failed")
+		}
+		mu.Unlock()
 	}
 }
 
 func parallelReader(mu *RBMutex, clocked, cunlock, cdone chan bool) {
-	tk := mu.RLock()
+	t := mu.RLock()
 	clocked <- true
 	<-cunlock
-	mu.RUnlock(tk)
+	mu.RUnlock(t)
 	cdone <- true
 }
 
@@ -66,16 +98,16 @@ func TestRBMutexParallelReaders(t *testing.T) {
 
 func reader(mu *RBMutex, numIterations int, activity *int32, cdone chan bool) {
 	for i := 0; i < numIterations; i++ {
-		tk := mu.RLock()
+		t := mu.RLock()
 		n := atomic.AddInt32(activity, 1)
 		if n < 1 || n >= 10000 {
-			mu.RUnlock(tk)
+			mu.RUnlock(t)
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf("rlock(%d)\n", n))
 		}
 		for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
 		}
 		atomic.AddInt32(activity, -1)
-		mu.RUnlock(tk)
+		mu.RUnlock(t)
 	}
 	cdone <- true
 }
@@ -132,6 +164,112 @@ func TestRBMutex(t *testing.T) {
 	hammerRBMutex(10, 5, n)
 }
 
+func optimisticReader(mu *RBMutex, numIterations int, activity *int32, cdone chan bool) {
+	for i := 0; i < numIterations; i++ {
+		if ok, t := mu.TryRLock(); ok {
+			n := atomic.AddInt32(activity, 1)
+			if n < 1 || n >= 10000 {
+				mu.RUnlock(t)
+				panic(fmt.Sprintf("rlock(%d)\n", n))
+			}
+			for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+			}
+			atomic.AddInt32(activity, -1)
+			mu.RUnlock(t)
+		}
+	}
+	cdone <- true
+}
+
+func optimisticWriter(mu *RBMutex, numIterations int, activity *int32, cdone chan bool) {
+	for i := 0; i < numIterations; i++ {
+		if mu.TryLock() {
+			n := atomic.AddInt32(activity, 10000)
+			if n != 10000 {
+				mu.Unlock()
+				panic(fmt.Sprintf("wlock(%d)\n", n))
+			}
+			for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+			}
+			atomic.AddInt32(activity, -10000)
+			mu.Unlock()
+		}
+	}
+	cdone <- true
+}
+
+func hammerOptimisticRBMutex(gomaxprocs, numReaders, numIterations int) {
+	runtime.GOMAXPROCS(gomaxprocs)
+	// Number of active readers + 10000 * number of active writers.
+	var activity int32
+	mu := NewRBMutex()
+	cdone := make(chan bool)
+	go optimisticWriter(mu, numIterations, &activity, cdone)
+	var i int
+	for i = 0; i < numReaders/2; i++ {
+		go optimisticReader(mu, numIterations, &activity, cdone)
+	}
+	go optimisticWriter(mu, numIterations, &activity, cdone)
+	for ; i < numReaders; i++ {
+		go optimisticReader(mu, numIterations, &activity, cdone)
+	}
+	// Wait for the 2 writers and all readers to finish.
+	for i := 0; i < 2+numReaders; i++ {
+		<-cdone
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRBMutex_Optimistic(t *testing.T) {
+	const n = 1000
+	defer runtime.GOMAXPROCS(runtime.GOMAXPROCS(0))
+	hammerOptimisticRBMutex(1, 1, n)
+	hammerOptimisticRBMutex(1, 3, n)
+	hammerOptimisticRBMutex(1, 10, n)
+	hammerOptimisticRBMutex(4, 1, n)
+	hammerOptimisticRBMutex(4, 3, n)
+	hammerOptimisticRBMutex(4, 10, n)
+	hammerOptimisticRBMutex(10, 1, n)
+	hammerOptimisticRBMutex(10, 3, n)
+	hammerOptimisticRBMutex(10, 10, n)
+	hammerOptimisticRBMutex(10, 5, n)
+}
+
+func hammerMixedRBMutex(gomaxprocs, numReaders, numIterations int) {
+	runtime.GOMAXPROCS(gomaxprocs)
+	// Number of active readers + 10000 * number of active writers.
+	var activity int32
+	mu := NewRBMutex()
+	cdone := make(chan bool)
+	go writer(mu, numIterations, &activity, cdone)
+	var i int
+	for i = 0; i < numReaders/2; i++ {
+		go reader(mu, numIterations, &activity, cdone)
+	}
+	go optimisticWriter(mu, numIterations, &activity, cdone)
+	for ; i < numReaders; i++ {
+		go optimisticReader(mu, numIterations, &activity, cdone)
+	}
+	// Wait for the 2 writers and all readers to finish.
+	for i := 0; i < 2+numReaders; i++ {
+		<-cdone
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRBMutex_Mixed(t *testing.T) {
+	const n = 1000
+	defer runtime.GOMAXPROCS(runtime.GOMAXPROCS(0))
+	hammerMixedRBMutex(1, 1, n)
+	hammerMixedRBMutex(1, 3, n)
+	hammerMixedRBMutex(1, 10, n)
+	hammerMixedRBMutex(4, 1, n)
+	hammerMixedRBMutex(4, 3, n)
+	hammerMixedRBMutex(4, 10, n)
+	hammerMixedRBMutex(10, 1, n)
+	hammerMixedRBMutex(10, 3, n)
+	hammerMixedRBMutex(10, 10, n)
+	hammerMixedRBMutex(10, 5, n)
+}
+
 func benchmarkRBMutex(b *testing.B, parallelism, localWork, writeRatio int) {
 	mu := NewRBMutex()
 	b.SetParallelism(parallelism)