diff --git a/docs/89-NEWS.md b/docs/89-NEWS.md
index 2e027f36f..18d315cb1 100644
--- a/docs/89-NEWS.md
+++ b/docs/89-NEWS.md
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ This document was last updated at commit v4.3-197-g9085ed631.
  * Setting `awful.rules.rules` now append the rules to the existing set.
    Clearing the rules was never officially supported. If you *really* want the
    old behavior, use `awful.rules.rules = {}; awful.rules.rules = my_new_rules`.
+ * `client:relative_move()` now default `nil` values to zero. The previous
+   behavior made no sense.
 
 <a name="v43"></a>
 # Awesome window manager framework version 4.3 changes
diff --git a/lib/awful/client.lua b/lib/awful/client.lua
index 16085ab49..8e665a7d7 100644
--- a/lib/awful/client.lua
+++ b/lib/awful/client.lua
@@ -523,16 +523,16 @@ end
 --
 -- @method relative_move
 -- @see geometry
--- @tparam[opt=c.x] number x The relative x coordinate.
--- @tparam[opt=c.y] number y The relative y coordinate.
--- @tparam[opt=c.width] number w The relative width.
--- @tparam[opt=c.height] number h The relative height.
+-- @tparam[opt=0] number x The relative x coordinate.
+-- @tparam[opt=0] number y The relative y coordinate.
+-- @tparam[opt=0] number w The relative width.
+-- @tparam[opt=0] number h The relative height.
 function client.object.relative_move(self, x, y, w, h)
     local geometry = self:geometry()
-    geometry['x'] = geometry['x'] + (x or geometry.x)
-    geometry['y'] = geometry['y'] + (y or geometry.y)
-    geometry['width'] = geometry['width'] + (w or geometry.width)
-    geometry['height'] = geometry['height'] + (h or geometry.height)
+    geometry['x'] = geometry['x'] + (x or 0)
+    geometry['y'] = geometry['y'] + (y or 0)
+    geometry['width'] = geometry['width'] + (w or 0)
+    geometry['height'] = geometry['height'] + (h or 0)
     self:geometry(geometry)
 end