diff --git a/include/crtrow.idl b/include/crtrow.idl
index da26a72d5d9..98c0bce8cb9 100644
--- a/include/crtrow.idl
+++ b/include/crtrow.idl
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ interface ICreateRow : IUnknown
                       [in,  unique] IAuthenticate *pAuthenticate,
                       [in, out, unique] DBIMPLICITSESSION *pImplSession,
                       [in, out, unique] DBBINDURLSTATUS *pdwBindStatus,
-                      [out, /*annotation("__deref_opt_out_opt")*/] LPOLESTR *ppwszNewURL,
+                      [out, annotation("__deref_opt_out_opt")] LPOLESTR *ppwszNewURL,
                       [out, iid_is(riid)] IUnknown **ppUnk);
 
     [call_as(CreateRow)]
diff --git a/include/dbdsad.idl b/include/dbdsad.idl
index 1fb8c9f53f0..ad2695efb85 100644
--- a/include/dbdsad.idl
+++ b/include/dbdsad.idl
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ interface IDBDataSourceAdmin : IUnknown
                                   [in, size_is(cPropertyIDSets)] const DBPROPIDSET rgPropertyIDSets[],
                                   [in, out] ULONG *pcPropertyInfoSets,
                                   [out, size_is(,*pcPropertyInfoSets)] DBPROPINFOSET **prgPropertyInfoSets,
-                                  [out, /*annotation("__deref_out_z_opt")*/] OLECHAR **ppDescBuffer);
+                                  [out, annotation("__deref_out_z_opt")] OLECHAR **ppDescBuffer);
 
     [call_as(GetCreationProperties)]
     HRESULT RemoteGetCreationProperties([in] ULONG cPropertyIDSets,
diff --git a/include/dbprop.idl b/include/dbprop.idl
index 77ceab01c94..782191a4554 100644
--- a/include/dbprop.idl
+++ b/include/dbprop.idl
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ interface IDBProperties : IUnknown {
              [in, size_is(cPropertyIDSets)] const DBPROPIDSET rgPropertyIDSets[],
              [in, out] ULONG *pcPropertyInfoSets,
              [out, size_is(,*pcPropertyInfoSets)] DBPROPINFOSET **prgPropertyInfoSets,
-             [out, /*annotation("__deref_out_z_opt")*/] OLECHAR **ppDescBuffer);
+             [out, annotation("__deref_out_z_opt")] OLECHAR **ppDescBuffer);
 
     [call_as(GetPropertyInfo)] HRESULT RemoteGetPropertyInfo(
              [in] ULONG cPropertyIDSets,