diff --git a/lib/activate/activate.c b/lib/activate/activate.c
index aa7f65308..887cfd71c 100644
--- a/lib/activate/activate.c
+++ b/lib/activate/activate.c
@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ static int _query(struct logical_volume *lv, int (*fn)(const char *))
 	return fn(buffer);
 }
 
+
+/*
+ * These three functions return the number of LVs in the state, 
+ * or -1 on error.
+ */
 int lv_active(struct logical_volume *lv)
 {
 	return _query(lv, device_active);
@@ -77,6 +82,10 @@ int lv_open_count(struct logical_volume *lv)
 	return _query(lv, device_open_count);
 }
 
+
+/*
+ * Returns 1 if info structure populated, else 0 on failure.
+ */
 int lv_info(struct logical_volume *lv, struct dm_info *info)
 {
 	char buffer[128];
@@ -84,7 +93,7 @@ int lv_info(struct logical_volume *lv, struct dm_info *info)
 	if (!build_dm_name(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "",
 			   lv->vg->name, lv->name)) {
 		stack;
-		return -1;
+		return 0;
 	}
 
 	return device_info(buffer, info);
diff --git a/lib/activate/activate.h b/lib/activate/activate.h
index 95a30aab8..91bb1725f 100644
--- a/lib/activate/activate.h
+++ b/lib/activate/activate.h
@@ -13,11 +13,15 @@ int driver_version(char *version, size_t size);
 int library_version(char *version, size_t size);
 
 /*
- * Status functions.
+ * Status functions.  Return count (0 upwards) or else -1 on error.
  */
 int lv_active(struct logical_volume *lv);
 int lv_suspended(struct logical_volume *lv);
 int lv_open_count(struct logical_volume *lv);
+
+/*
+ * Returns 1 if info structure has been populated, else 0.
+ */
 int lv_info(struct logical_volume *lv, struct dm_info *info);
 
 /*
@@ -42,12 +46,12 @@ int lv_update_write_access(struct logical_volume *lv);
 
 /*
  * Activate all LVs in the VG.  Ignore any that are already
- * active.  Return number activated.
+ * active.  Return number actually activated.
  */
 int activate_lvs_in_vg(struct volume_group *vg);
 
 /*
- * Deactivate all LVs in the VG
+ * Deactivate all LVs in the VG.  Return number actually deactivated.
  */
 int deactivate_lvs_in_vg(struct volume_group *vg);