diff --git a/REVIEWING.rst b/REVIEWING.rst
index bf63ed2620..31fedce868 100644
--- a/REVIEWING.rst
+++ b/REVIEWING.rst
@@ -159,8 +159,32 @@ fix it. When it will happen, we will deal with it on a case-by-case basis.
 
 When to approve
 ---------------
-* Every patch needs two +2s before being approved.
-* It's ok to hold off on an approval until a subject matter expert reviews it
-* If a patch has already been approved but requires a trivial rebase to merge,
-  you do not have to wait for a second +2, since the patch has already had
-  two +2s.
+* It's OK to hold off on an approval until a subject matter expert reviews it.
+* Every patch needs two +2's before being approved.
+* However, a single Tempest core reviewer can approve patches without waiting
+  for another +2 in the following cases:
+
+  * If a patch has already been approved but requires a trivial rebase to
+    merge, then there is no need to wait for a second +2, since the patch has
+    already had two +2's.
+  * If any trivial patch set fixes one of the items below:
+
+    * Documentation or code comment typo
+    * Documentation ref link
+    * Example: `example`_
+
+    .. note::
+
+      Any other small documentation, CI job, or code change does not fall under
+      this category.
+
+  * If the patch **unblocks** a failing project gate, provided that:
+
+    * the project's PTL +1's the change
+    * the patch does not affect any other project's testing gates
+    * the patch does not cause any negative side effects
+
+  Note that such a policy should be used judiciously, as we should strive to
+  have two +2's on each patch set, prior to approval.
+
+.. _example: https://review.openstack.org/#/c/611032/