diff --git a/builtin/game/falling.lua b/builtin/game/falling.lua
index 057d0d0ed..5450542ff 100644
--- a/builtin/game/falling.lua
+++ b/builtin/game/falling.lua
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ local function convert_to_falling_node(pos, node)
 
 	obj:get_luaentity():set_node(node, metatable)
 	core.remove_node(pos)
-	return true
+	return true, obj
 end
 
 function core.spawn_falling_node(pos)
diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index 7d413a9e9..4c963465a 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -4927,7 +4927,7 @@ Environment access
     * Punch node with the same effects that a player would cause
 * `minetest.spawn_falling_node(pos)`
     * Change node into falling node
-    * Returns `true` if successful, `false` on failure
+    * Returns `true` and the ObjectRef of the spawned entity if successful, `false` on failure
 
 * `minetest.find_nodes_with_meta(pos1, pos2)`
     * Get a table of positions of nodes that have metadata within a region