diff --git a/girepository/tools/generate.c b/girepository/tools/generate.c
index 8a3b1d865..fad680f5d 100644
--- a/girepository/tools/generate.c
+++ b/girepository/tools/generate.c
@@ -382,21 +382,19 @@ write_callable_info (const gchar    *namespace,
 
   xml_start_element (file, "return-value");
 
-  if (g_type_info_is_pointer (type))
+  switch (g_callable_info_get_caller_owns (info))
     {
-      switch (g_callable_info_get_caller_owns (info))
-	{
-	case GI_TRANSFER_NOTHING:
-	  break;
-	case GI_TRANSFER_CONTAINER:
-	  xml_printf (file, " transfer-ownership=\"container\"");
-	  break;
-	case GI_TRANSFER_EVERYTHING:
-	  xml_printf (file, " transfer-ownership=\"full\"");
-	  break;
-	default:
-	  g_assert_not_reached ();
-	}
+    case GI_TRANSFER_NOTHING:
+      xml_printf (file, " transfer-ownership=\"none\"");
+      break;
+    case GI_TRANSFER_CONTAINER:
+      xml_printf (file, " transfer-ownership=\"container\"");
+      break;
+    case GI_TRANSFER_EVERYTHING:
+      xml_printf (file, " transfer-ownership=\"full\"");
+      break;
+    default:
+      g_assert_not_reached ();
     }
   
   if (g_callable_info_may_return_null (info))
@@ -421,6 +419,7 @@ write_callable_info (const gchar    *namespace,
       switch (g_arg_info_get_ownership_transfer (arg))
 	{
 	case GI_TRANSFER_NOTHING:
+	  xml_printf (file, " transfer-ownership=\"none\"");
 	  break;
 	case GI_TRANSFER_CONTAINER:
 	  xml_printf (file, " transfer-ownership=\"container\"");