diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-keyval.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-keyval.c
index 59c5d1047..d3bf99843 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-keyval.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-keyval.c
@@ -176,9 +176,9 @@ clutter_keys_keyval_compare (const void *pkey, const void *pbase)
  * clutter_keyval_name:
  * @keyval: A key value.
  *  
- * Returns: (nullable): The corresponding symbolic name.
+ * Returns: (nullable) (transfer none): The corresponding symbolic name.
  */
-char *
+const char *
 clutter_keyval_name (unsigned int keyval)
 {
   static char buf[100];
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-keyval.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-keyval.h
index 76f750414..8e6267aa6 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-keyval.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-keyval.h
@@ -35,6 +35,6 @@ void clutter_keyval_convert_case (unsigned int  symbol,
                                   unsigned int *upper);
 
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
-char * clutter_keyval_name       (unsigned int keyval);
+const char * clutter_keyval_name (unsigned int keyval);
 
 G_END_DECLS