diff --git a/src/libudev/libudev-device.c b/src/libudev/libudev-device.c
index b5b07fc5d..059a59060 100644
--- a/src/libudev/libudev-device.c
+++ b/src/libudev/libudev-device.c
@@ -1090,7 +1090,7 @@ _public_ struct udev_device *udev_device_ref(struct udev_device *udev_device)
  * Drop a reference of a udev device. If the refcount reaches zero,
  * the resources of the device will be released.
  *
- * Returns: the passed udev device if it has still an active reference, or #NULL otherwise.
+ * Returns: #NULL
  **/
 _public_ struct udev_device *udev_device_unref(struct udev_device *udev_device)
 {
@@ -1098,7 +1098,7 @@ _public_ struct udev_device *udev_device_unref(struct udev_device *udev_device)
                 return NULL;
         udev_device->refcount--;
         if (udev_device->refcount > 0)
-                return udev_device;
+                return NULL;
         if (udev_device->parent_device != NULL)
                 udev_device_unref(udev_device->parent_device);
         free(udev_device->syspath);
diff --git a/src/libudev/libudev-enumerate.c b/src/libudev/libudev-enumerate.c
index e71d766c0..48ffe83d3 100644
--- a/src/libudev/libudev-enumerate.c
+++ b/src/libudev/libudev-enumerate.c
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ _public_ struct udev_enumerate *udev_enumerate_ref(struct udev_enumerate *udev_e
  * Drop a reference of an enumeration context. If the refcount reaches zero,
  * all resources of the enumeration context will be released.
  *
- * Returns: the passed enumeration context if it has still an active reference, or #NULL otherwise.
+ * Returns: #NULL
  **/
 _public_ struct udev_enumerate *udev_enumerate_unref(struct udev_enumerate *udev_enumerate)
 {
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ _public_ struct udev_enumerate *udev_enumerate_unref(struct udev_enumerate *udev
                 return NULL;
         udev_enumerate->refcount--;
         if (udev_enumerate->refcount > 0)
-                return udev_enumerate;
+                return NULL;
         udev_list_cleanup(&udev_enumerate->sysattr_match_list);
         udev_list_cleanup(&udev_enumerate->sysattr_nomatch_list);
         udev_list_cleanup(&udev_enumerate->subsystem_match_list);
diff --git a/src/libudev/libudev-hwdb.c b/src/libudev/libudev-hwdb.c
index de1cb8318..b53b35ce4 100644
--- a/src/libudev/libudev-hwdb.c
+++ b/src/libudev/libudev-hwdb.c
@@ -334,14 +334,14 @@ _public_ struct udev_hwdb *udev_hwdb_ref(struct udev_hwdb *hwdb) {
  * Drop a reference of a hwdb context. If the refcount reaches zero,
  * all resources of the hwdb context will be released.
  *
- * Returns: the passed hwdb context if it has still an active reference, or #NULL otherwise.
+ * Returns: #NULL
  **/
 _public_ struct udev_hwdb *udev_hwdb_unref(struct udev_hwdb *hwdb) {
         if (!hwdb)
                 return NULL;
         hwdb->refcount--;
         if (hwdb->refcount > 0)
-                return hwdb;
+                return NULL;
         if (hwdb->map)
                 munmap((void *)hwdb->map, hwdb->st.st_size);
         if (hwdb->f)
diff --git a/src/libudev/libudev-monitor.c b/src/libudev/libudev-monitor.c
index 24efdc65e..56a6c5e39 100644
--- a/src/libudev/libudev-monitor.c
+++ b/src/libudev/libudev-monitor.c
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ _public_ struct udev_monitor *udev_monitor_ref(struct udev_monitor *udev_monitor
  * the bound socket will be closed, and the resources of the monitor
  * will be released.
  *
- * Returns: the passed udev monitor if it has still an active reference, or #NULL otherwise.
+ * Returns: #NULL
  **/
 _public_ struct udev_monitor *udev_monitor_unref(struct udev_monitor *udev_monitor)
 {
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ _public_ struct udev_monitor *udev_monitor_unref(struct udev_monitor *udev_monit
                 return NULL;
         udev_monitor->refcount--;
         if (udev_monitor->refcount > 0)
-                return udev_monitor;
+                return NULL;
         if (udev_monitor->sock >= 0)
                 close(udev_monitor->sock);
         udev_list_cleanup(&udev_monitor->filter_subsystem_list);
diff --git a/src/libudev/libudev-queue.c b/src/libudev/libudev-queue.c
index 0dd20313d..f67dba995 100644
--- a/src/libudev/libudev-queue.c
+++ b/src/libudev/libudev-queue.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ _public_ struct udev_queue *udev_queue_ref(struct udev_queue *udev_queue)
  * Drop a reference of a udev queue context. If the refcount reaches zero,
  * the resources of the queue context will be released.
  *
- * Returns: the passed queue context if it has still an active reference, or #NULL otherwise.
+ * Returns: #NULL
  **/
 _public_ struct udev_queue *udev_queue_unref(struct udev_queue *udev_queue)
 {
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ _public_ struct udev_queue *udev_queue_unref(struct udev_queue *udev_queue)
                 return NULL;
         udev_queue->refcount--;
         if (udev_queue->refcount > 0)
-                return udev_queue;
+                return NULL;
         udev_list_cleanup(&udev_queue->queue_list);
         free(udev_queue);
         return NULL;