diff --git a/erpnext/controllers/accounts_controller.py b/erpnext/controllers/accounts_controller.py
index 24b54776017..d7dc8f63bbd 100644
--- a/erpnext/controllers/accounts_controller.py
+++ b/erpnext/controllers/accounts_controller.py
@@ -215,8 +215,13 @@ class AccountsController(TransactionBase):
 		"""A row can be closed while anything is still pending on it.
 
 		Billing is the axis every closable document shares; the order doctypes
-		extend this with their own fulfilment axis. Amounts are compared as
-		magnitudes so return rows, which carry negative amounts, stay closable.
+		extend this with their own fulfilment axis.
+
+		Amounts are compared as magnitudes so that return rows stay closable.
+		That is deliberate: writing off a credit note that will never be issued
+		is a real decision, and closing a whole return document is already
+		allowed. Leaving it to the sign of the amount would decide it by
+		accident.
 		"""
 		return abs(flt(item.billed_amt)) < abs(flt(item.amount))
 
diff --git a/erpnext/controllers/tests/test_item_close_billing.py b/erpnext/controllers/tests/test_item_close_billing.py
index 517dc697984..3acaa2b4699 100644
--- a/erpnext/controllers/tests/test_item_close_billing.py
+++ b/erpnext/controllers/tests/test_item_close_billing.py
@@ -94,6 +94,20 @@ class TestPurchaseReceiptItemClose(ERPNextTestSuite):
 		self.assertNotEqual(receipt.status, "Closed")
 		self.assertEqual(receipt.per_billed, 0)
 
+	def test_unbilled_return_row_can_be_closed(self):
+		"""Return rows are closable by design, not by an accident of sign."""
+		receipt = self.make_purchase_receipt()
+		return_receipt = make_return_doc("Purchase Receipt", receipt.name)
+		return_receipt.insert()
+		return_receipt.submit()
+
+		row = return_receipt.items[0]
+		self.assertLess(row.amount, 0)
+		self.assertTrue(return_receipt.is_item_closable(row))
+
+		self.close_items(return_receipt, [row])
+		self.assertTrue(return_receipt.items[0].closed)
+
 
 class TestDeliveryNoteItemClose(ERPNextTestSuite):
 	def setUp(self):
@@ -215,3 +229,20 @@ class TestDeliveryNoteItemClose(ERPNextTestSuite):
 		pending = abs(flt(row.amount)) - abs(flt(row.billed_amt))
 		self.assertEqual(pending, abs(flt(note.items[0].amount)))
 		self.assertGreater(pending, 0)
+
+	def test_closing_a_return_row_leaves_the_original_untouched(self):
+		"""Writing off a credit note must not disturb what was returned."""
+		note = self.make_delivery_note()
+		return_note = make_return_doc("Delivery Note", note.name)
+		return_note.insert()
+		return_note.submit()
+
+		note.reload()
+		before = [(row.returned_qty, row.closed) for row in note.items]
+		per_returned_before = note.per_returned
+
+		self.close_items(return_note, [return_note.items[0]])
+
+		note.reload()
+		self.assertEqual([(row.returned_qty, row.closed) for row in note.items], before)
+		self.assertEqual(note.per_returned, per_returned_before)