diff --git a/lib/google/api_client/auth/storage.rb b/lib/google/api_client/auth/storage.rb
index 5197cf2d7..e7cc5bc4e 100644
--- a/lib/google/api_client/auth/storage.rb
+++ b/lib/google/api_client/auth/storage.rb
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ module Google
       # Loads credentials and authorizes an client.
       # @return [Object] Signet::OAuth2::Client or NIL
       def authorize
-        @authorization = false
+        @authorization = nil
         cached_credentials = load_credentials
         if cached_credentials && cached_credentials.size > 0
           @authorization = Signet::OAuth2::Client.new(cached_credentials)
diff --git a/spec/google/api_client/auth/storage_spec.rb b/spec/google/api_client/auth/storage_spec.rb
index 1c319f4b7..b9564644d 100644
--- a/spec/google/api_client/auth/storage_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/google/api_client/auth/storage_spec.rb
@@ -38,15 +38,19 @@ describe Google::APIClient::Storage do
         client_stub.stub(:expired?).and_return(true)
         Signet::OAuth2::Client.should_receive(:new).and_return(client_stub)
         subject.should_receive(:refresh_authorization)
-        subject.authorize
+        auth = subject.authorize
+        auth.should == subject.authorization
+        auth.should_not be_nil
       end
     end
 
     describe 'without credentials' do
 
-      it 'should return false' do
+      it 'should return nil' do
+        subject.authorization.should be_nil
         subject.should_receive(:load_credentials).and_return({})
-        subject.authorize.should be_false
+        subject.authorize.should be_nil
+        subject.authorization.should be_nil
       end
     end
   end