diff --git a/etc/ORG-NEWS b/etc/ORG-NEWS
index 6b40198b5..ddf1e9110 100644
--- a/etc/ORG-NEWS
+++ b/etc/ORG-NEWS
@@ -221,6 +221,11 @@ Running shell blocks with the ~:session~ header freezes Emacs until
 execution completes.  The new ~:async~ header allows users to continue
 editing with Emacs while a ~:session~ block executes.
 
+*** ~org-return~ now acts on citations at point
+
+When ~org-return-follows-link~ is non-nil and cursor is over an
+org-cite citation, ~org-return~ will call ~org-open-at-point~.
+
 ** Miscellaneous
 *** =org-crypt.el= now applies initial visibility settings to decrypted entries
 
diff --git a/lisp/org-keys.el b/lisp/org-keys.el
index c62d62a1d..3dbf3c017 100644
--- a/lisp/org-keys.el
+++ b/lisp/org-keys.el
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ implementation is bad."
   :type 'hook)
 
 (defcustom org-return-follows-link nil
-  "Non-nil means on links RET will follow the link.
+  "Non-nil means on links RET will open links, timestamps, and citations.
 In tables, the special behavior of RET has precedence."
   :group 'org-link-follow
   :type 'boolean
diff --git a/lisp/org.el b/lisp/org.el
index 866af624e..04a7ffd8f 100644
--- a/lisp/org.el
+++ b/lisp/org.el
@@ -17774,8 +17774,8 @@ When optional INDENT argument is non-nil, call
 and INTERACTIVE.
 
 When `org-return-follows-link' is non-nil and point is on
-a timestamp or a link, call `org-open-at-point'.  However, it
-will not happen if point is in a table or on a \"dead\"
+a timestamp, a link or a citation, call `org-open-at-point'.
+However, it will not happen if point is in a table or on a \"dead\"
 object (e.g., within a comment).  In these case, you need to use
 `org-open-at-point' directly."
   (interactive "i\nP\np")
@@ -17795,8 +17795,8 @@ object (e.g., within a comment).  In these case, you need to use
 	  (insert "\n")
 	(org-table-justify-field-maybe)
 	(call-interactively #'org-table-next-row)))
-     ;; On a link or a timestamp, call `org-open-at-point' if
-     ;; `org-return-follows-link' allows it.  Tolerate fuzzy
+     ;; On a link, a timestamp or a citation, call `org-open-at-point'
+     ;; if `org-return-follows-link' allows it.  Tolerate fuzzy
      ;; locations, e.g., in a comment, as `org-open-at-point'.
      ((and org-return-follows-link
 	   (or (and (eq 'link element-type)
@@ -17808,6 +17808,7 @@ object (e.g., within a comment).  In these case, you need to use
 			(> (point) origin))))
 	       (org-in-regexp org-ts-regexp-both nil t)
 	       (org-in-regexp org-tsr-regexp-both nil  t)
+               (org-element-lineage context '(citation citation-reference) 'include-self)
 	       (org-in-regexp org-link-any-re nil t)))
       (call-interactively #'org-open-at-point))
      ;; Insert newline in heading, but preserve tags.