diff --git a/stubs/docutils/docutils/core.pyi b/stubs/docutils/docutils/core.pyi
index 96a3fe1ee316..1fca13033a3e 100644
--- a/stubs/docutils/docutils/core.pyi
+++ b/stubs/docutils/docutils/core.pyi
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ def publish_doctree(
     settings_overrides=None,
     config_section: str | None = None,
     enable_exit_status: bool = False,
-): ...
+) -> nodes.document: ...
 def publish_from_doctree(
     document,
     destination_path: StrPath | None = None,