diff --git a/lib/elixir/lib/kernel/special_forms.ex b/lib/elixir/lib/kernel/special_forms.ex
index b3e32c7dd5c..384a087c32d 100644
--- a/lib/elixir/lib/kernel/special_forms.ex
+++ b/lib/elixir/lib/kernel/special_forms.ex
@@ -2355,7 +2355,7 @@ defmodule Kernel.SpecialForms do
   defmacro try(args), do: error!([args])
 
   @doc """
-  Checks if there is a message matching any of the given clauses in the current
+  Consumes the first message matching any of the given clauses in the current
   process mailbox.
 
   If there is no matching message, the current process waits until a matching
diff --git a/lib/ex_unit/lib/ex_unit/assertions.ex b/lib/ex_unit/lib/ex_unit/assertions.ex
index 00ba6ed942a..6440bba076a 100644
--- a/lib/ex_unit/lib/ex_unit/assertions.ex
+++ b/lib/ex_unit/lib/ex_unit/assertions.ex
@@ -459,8 +459,10 @@ defmodule ExUnit.Assertions do
   The default timeout duration is determined by the `assert_receive_timeout` option,
   which can be set using `ExUnit.configure/1`. This option defaults to 100 milliseconds.
 
-  The `pattern` argument must be a match pattern. Flunks with `failure_message`
-  if a message matching `pattern` is not received.
+  The `pattern` argument must be a match pattern.
+
+  Flunks with `failure_message` if a message matching `pattern` is not received.
+  If a message matches, it is also removed from the process mailbox.
 
   ## Examples
 
@@ -487,8 +489,10 @@ defmodule ExUnit.Assertions do
   Asserts that a message matching `pattern` was received and is in the
   current process' mailbox.
 
-  The `pattern` argument must be a match pattern. Flunks with `failure_message`
-  if a message matching `pattern` was not received.
+  The `pattern` argument must be a match pattern.
+
+  Flunks with `failure_message` if a message matching `pattern` was not received.
+  If a message matches, it is also removed from the process mailbox.
 
   Timeout is set to `0`, so there is no waiting time.