diff --git a/devel.module b/devel.module
index 2444e1a..36b37e1 100644
--- a/devel.module
+++ b/devel.module
@@ -1561,6 +1561,8 @@ function dargs($always = TRUE) {
  *   Whether to return or print the string. Default to FALSE.
  * @param $name
  *   Optional name for identifying the output.
+ * @return
+ *   The query object, or the query string if $return was TRUE.
  */
 function dpq($query, $return = FALSE, $name = NULL) {
   if (user_access('access devel information')) {
@@ -1576,34 +1578,50 @@ function dpq($query, $return = FALSE, $name = NULL) {
       return $sql;
     }
     else {
-      dpm($sql, $name);
+      return dpm($sql, $name);
     }
   }
 }
 
 /**
- * Print a variable to the 'message' area of the page. Uses drupal_set_message()
+ * Print a variable to the 'message' area of the page. Uses drupal_set_message().
+ *
+ * @param $input
+ *   An arbitrary value to output.
+ * @param $name
+ *   Optional name for identifying the output.
+ * @return
+ *   The unaltered input value.
  */
 function dpm($input, $name = NULL) {
   if (user_access('access devel information')) {
     $export = kprint_r($input, TRUE, $name);
     drupal_set_message($export);
   }
+  return $input;
 }
 
 /**
- * drupal_var_export() a variable to the 'message' area of the page. Uses drupal_set_message()
+ * drupal_var_export() a variable to the 'message' area of the page. Uses drupal_set_message().
+ *
+ * @param $input
+ *   An arbitrary value to output.
+ * @param $name
+ *   Optional name for identifying the output.
+ * @return
+ *   The unaltered input value.
  */
 function dvm($input, $name = NULL) {
   if (user_access('access devel information')) {
     $export = dprint_r($input, TRUE, $name, 'drupal_var_export', FALSE);
     drupal_set_message($export);
   }
+  return $input;
 }
 
 // legacy function that was poorly named. use dpm() instead, since the 'p' maps to 'print_r'
 function dsm($input, $name = NULL) {
-  dpm($input, $name);
+  return dpm($input, $name);
 }
 
 /**