diff --git a/lib/helpers.c b/lib/helpers.c
index 7071ccf2..c2693a5b 100644
--- a/lib/helpers.c
+++ b/lib/helpers.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ struct userdata__simple {
 	struct mosquitto_message *messages;
 	int max_msg_count;
 	int message_count;
-	bool retained;
+	bool want_retained;
 };
 
 
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ static int on_message_simple(struct mosquitto *mosq, void *obj, const struct mos
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	/* Don't process stale retained messages if 'retained' was false */
-	if(!userdata->retained && message->retain){
+	/* Don't process stale retained messages if 'want_retained' was false */
+	if(!userdata->want_retained && message->retain){
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ static int on_message_simple(struct mosquitto *mosq, void *obj, const struct mos
 libmosq_EXPORT int mosquitto_subscribe_simple(
 		struct mosquitto_message **messages,
 		int msg_count,
-		bool retained,
+		bool want_retained,
 		const char *topic,
 		int qos,
 		const char *host,
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ libmosq_EXPORT int mosquitto_subscribe_simple(
 	}
 	userdata.message_count = 0;
 	userdata.max_msg_count = msg_count;
-	userdata.retained = retained;
+	userdata.want_retained = want_retained;
 
 	rc = mosquitto_subscribe_callback(
 			on_message_simple, &userdata,
diff --git a/lib/mosquitto.h b/lib/mosquitto.h
index 1babfedc..014c29e1 100644
--- a/lib/mosquitto.h
+++ b/lib/mosquitto.h
@@ -1575,11 +1575,11 @@ struct libmosquitto_tls {
  *              messages will be returned here. On error, this will be set to
  *              NULL.
  *   msg_count - the number of messages to retrieve.
- *   retained - if set to true, stale retained messages will be treated as
+ *   want_retained - if set to true, stale retained messages will be treated as
+ *                   normal messages with regards to msg_count. If set to
+ *                   false, they will be ignored.
  *   topic - the subscription topic to use (wildcards are allowed).
  *   qos - the qos to use for the subscription.
- *              normal messages with regards to msg_count. If set to false,
- *              they will be ignored.
  *   host - the broker to connect to.
  *   port - the network port the broker is listening on.
  *   client_id - the client id to use, or NULL if a random client id should be
@@ -1601,7 +1601,7 @@ struct libmosquitto_tls {
 libmosq_EXPORT int mosquitto_subscribe_simple(
 		struct mosquitto_message **messages,
 		int msg_count,
-		bool retained,
+		bool want_retained,
 		const char *topic,
 		int qos,
 		const char *host,
diff --git a/man/libmosquitto.3.xml b/man/libmosquitto.3.xml
index 70e44cb3..0048ee4a 100644
--- a/man/libmosquitto.3.xml
+++ b/man/libmosquitto.3.xml
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@
 			<funcsynopsis><funcprototype><funcdef>int <function>mosquitto_subscribe_simple</function></funcdef>
 					<paramdef>struct mosquitto_message **<parameter>message</parameter></paramdef>
 					<paramdef>int <parameter>msg_count</parameter></paramdef>
-					<paramdef>bool <parameter>retained</parameter></paramdef>
+					<paramdef>bool <parameter>want_retained</parameter></paramdef>
 					<paramdef>const char *<parameter>topic</parameter></paramdef>
 					<paramdef>int<parameter>qos</parameter></paramdef>
 					<paramdef>const char *<parameter>host</parameter></paramdef>