diff --git a/synmark/__init__.py b/synmark/__init__.py
index 5cc8ed28ee..570eb818d9 100644
--- a/synmark/__init__.py
+++ b/synmark/__init__.py
@@ -21,15 +21,17 @@ from twisted.internet.main import installReactor
 from synapse.config.homeserver import HomeServerConfig
 from synapse.util import Clock
 
-from tests.utils import default_config, setup_test_homeserver, setupdb
-
-
-def setup_database():
-    setupdb()
+from tests.utils import default_config, setup_test_homeserver
 
 
 async def make_homeserver(reactor, config=None):
+    """
+    Make a Homeserver suitable for running benchmarks against.
 
+    Args:
+        reactor: A Twisted reactor to run under.
+        config: A HomeServerConfig to use, or None.
+    """
     cleanup_tasks = []
     clock = Clock(reactor)
 
@@ -58,7 +60,8 @@ async def make_homeserver(reactor, config=None):
 
 def make_reactor():
     """
-    Make an install a Twisted reactor.
+    Instantiate and install a Twisted reactor suitable for testing (i.e. not the
+    default global one).
     """
     reactor = epollreactor.EPollReactor()
 
diff --git a/synmark/__main__.py b/synmark/__main__.py
index 8a8fbdf6c7..ac59befbd4 100644
--- a/synmark/__main__.py
+++ b/synmark/__main__.py
@@ -18,17 +18,19 @@ from contextlib import redirect_stderr
 from io import StringIO
 
 import pyperf
-from synmark import make_reactor, setup_database
+from synmark import make_reactor
 from synmark.suites import SUITES
 
 from twisted.internet.defer import ensureDeferred
 from twisted.logger import globalLogBeginner, textFileLogObserver
 from twisted.python.failure import Failure
 
+from tests.utils import setupdb
+
 
 def make_test(main):
     """
-    Take main, the test function, and wrap it in a reactor start and stop.
+    Take a benchmark function and wrap it in a reactor start and stop.
     """
 
     def _main(loops):
@@ -75,7 +77,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             globalLogBeginner.beginLoggingTo(
                 [textFileLogObserver(sys.__stdout__)], redirectStandardIO=False
             )
-        setup_database()
+        setupdb()
 
     for suite, loops in SUITES:
         if loops:
diff --git a/synmark/suites/logging.py b/synmark/suites/logging.py
index 26b78e4569..d8e4c7d58f 100644
--- a/synmark/suites/logging.py
+++ b/synmark/suites/logging.py
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@ class LineCounter(LineOnlyReceiver):
 
 
 async def main(reactor, loops):
-
+    """
+    Benchmark how long it takes to send `loops` messages.
+    """
     servers = []
 
     def protocol():