diff --git a/nalgebra-sparse/src/coo.rs b/nalgebra-sparse/src/coo.rs
index e047745a..197ef6f4 100644
--- a/nalgebra-sparse/src/coo.rs
+++ b/nalgebra-sparse/src/coo.rs
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ impl<T> CooMatrix<T> {
     /// Remove a single triplet from the matrix.
     ///
     /// This removes the value `v` from the `i`th row and `j`th column in the matrix.
-    pub fn clear_triplet(&mut self, i: usize, j: usize, v: T) -> Option<(usize, usize, T)>
+    pub fn clear_triplet(&mut self, i: usize, j: usize, v: T) -> Option<T>
     where
         T: PartialEq,
     {
@@ -224,8 +224,8 @@ impl<T> CooMatrix<T> {
         if let Some(triple_idx) = triple_idx {
             self.row_indices.remove(triple_idx);
             self.col_indices.remove(triple_idx);
-            let retv = self.values.remove(triple_idx);
-            Some((i, j, retv))
+            let removed_value = self.values.remove(triple_idx);
+            Some(removed_value)
         } else {
             None
         }
diff --git a/nalgebra-sparse/tests/unit_tests/coo.rs b/nalgebra-sparse/tests/unit_tests/coo.rs
index 6ec88fb1..4b640596 100644
--- a/nalgebra-sparse/tests/unit_tests/coo.rs
+++ b/nalgebra-sparse/tests/unit_tests/coo.rs
@@ -242,16 +242,16 @@ fn coo_clear_triplet_valid_entries() {
         vec![(0, 0, &1), (0, 0, &2), (2, 2, &3)]
     );
     let triplet = coo.clear_triplet(0, 0, 1);
-    assert_eq!(triplet, Some((0, 0, 1)));
+    assert_eq!(triplet, Some(1));
     assert_eq!(
         coo.triplet_iter().collect::<Vec<_>>(),
         vec![(0, 0, &2), (2, 2, &3)]
     );
     let triplet = coo.clear_triplet(0, 0, 2);
-    assert_eq!(triplet, Some((0, 0, 2)));
+    assert_eq!(triplet, Some(2));
     assert_eq!(coo.triplet_iter().collect::<Vec<_>>(), vec![(2, 2, &3)]);
     let triplet = coo.clear_triplet(2, 2, 3);
-    assert_eq!(triplet, Some((2, 2, 3)));
+    assert_eq!(triplet, Some(3));
     assert_eq!(coo.triplet_iter().collect::<Vec<_>>(), vec![]);
 }