diff --git a/include/qom/object.h b/include/qom/object.h
index 55d925d2c8..0f3a60617c 100644
--- a/include/qom/object.h
+++ b/include/qom/object.h
@@ -1467,8 +1467,9 @@ const char *object_get_canonical_path_component(const Object *obj);
 /**
  * object_get_canonical_path:
  *
- * Returns: The canonical path for a object.  This is the path within the
- * composition tree starting from the root.
+ * Returns: The canonical path for a object, newly allocated.  This is
+ * the path within the composition tree starting from the root.  Use
+ * g_free() to free it.
  */
 char *object_get_canonical_path(const Object *obj);