diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Abstract.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Abstract.php
index 9cbf7869805..ed4ff39f489 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Abstract.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Resource/Abstract.php
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ protected function _prepareValueForSave($value, Mage_Eav_Model_Entity_Attribute_
      * @param int $entityId
      * @param int|string|array $attribute atrribute's ids or codes
      * @param int|Mage_Core_Model_Store $store
-     * @return bool|string|array
+     * @return bool|string|null|array
      */
     public function getAttributeRawValue($entityId, $attribute, $store)
     {
@@ -687,8 +687,7 @@ public function getAttributeRawValue($entityId, $attribute, $store)
         }
 
         if (count($attributesData) === 1 && !$returnArray) {
-            $_data = reset($attributesData);
-            $attributesData = $_data;
+            return reset($attributesData);
         }
 
         return $attributesData ? $attributesData : false;