diff --git a/mps/code/trans.c b/mps/code/trans.c
index bce12e50d43..a8821d48e04 100644
--- a/mps/code/trans.c
+++ b/mps/code/trans.c
@@ -323,13 +323,7 @@ Res TransformApply(Bool *appliedReturn, Transform transform)
   ArenaPark(globals);
 
 done:
-  if (transform->aborted) {
-    *appliedReturn = FALSE;
-  } else {
-    *appliedReturn = TRUE;
-    /* I'm not sure why the interface is defined this way. RB 2012-08-03 */
-    TransformDestroy(transform);
-  }
+  *appliedReturn = !transform->aborted;
   
   return ResOK;
 }
diff --git a/mps/code/ztfm.c b/mps/code/ztfm.c
index 2a0629cc763..f2f00d0cab1 100644
--- a/mps/code/ztfm.c
+++ b/mps/code/ztfm.c
@@ -268,12 +268,8 @@ static mps_res_t mps_arena_transform_objects_list(mps_bool_t *transform_done_o,
     if(res == MPS_RES_OK) {
       res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, transform);
     }
-    if(applied) {
-      /* Transform has been destroyed */
-      Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
-    } else {
-      mps_transform_destroy(transform);
-    }
+    Insist(!applied || res == MPS_RES_OK);
+    mps_transform_destroy(transform);
   }
 
   /* Always set *transform_done_o (even if there is also a non-ResOK */
@@ -516,6 +512,20 @@ static void Transform(mps_arena_t arena, mps_ap_t ap)
     res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, t1);
     Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
     Insist(applied);
+    mps_transform_destroy(t1);
+    t1 = NULL;
+    after(myrootExact, perset, 1, 0, 2, 0);
+
+    /* Apply twice */
+    before(myrootExact, perset);
+    res = mps_transform_create(&t1, arena);
+    Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
+    res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, t1);
+    Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
+    Insist(applied);
+    res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, t1);
+    Insist(res == MPS_RES_PARAM);
+    mps_transform_destroy(t1);
     t1 = NULL;
     after(myrootExact, perset, 1, 0, 2, 0);
 
@@ -531,6 +541,7 @@ static void Transform(mps_arena_t arena, mps_ap_t ap)
     res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, t1);
     Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
     Insist(applied);
+    mps_transform_destroy(t1);
     t1 = NULL;
     after(myrootExact, perset, 1, 0, 2, 0);
 
@@ -556,6 +567,7 @@ static void Transform(mps_arena_t arena, mps_ap_t ap)
     res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, t1);
     Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
     Insist(applied);
+    mps_transform_destroy(t1);
     t1 = NULL;
     after(myrootExact, perset, 1, -11, 2, +11);
 
@@ -571,6 +583,7 @@ static void Transform(mps_arena_t arena, mps_ap_t ap)
     res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, t1);
     Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
     Insist(applied);
+    mps_transform_destroy(t1);
     t1 = NULL;
     after(myrootExact, perset, 1, -14, 2, +14);
 
@@ -588,8 +601,10 @@ static void Transform(mps_arena_t arena, mps_ap_t ap)
     res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, t2);
     Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
     Insist(applied);
+    mps_transform_destroy(t2);
     t2 = NULL;
     mps_transform_destroy(t1);
+    t1 = NULL;
     after(myrootExact, perset, 1, -10, 2, +10);
 
     /* Two transforms, both live [-- not supported yet.  RHSK 2010-12-16] */
@@ -606,18 +621,11 @@ static void Transform(mps_arena_t arena, mps_ap_t ap)
     res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, t2);
     Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
     Insist(applied);
+    mps_transform_destroy(t2);
     t2 = NULL;
+    /* TODO: This test block does not destroy t1.  Why is that?  RB 2023-06-16 */
     k = l;
     after(myrootExact, perset, 1, -10, 2, +10);
-
-    /* Attempt to destroy after applied. */
-    before(myrootExact, perset);
-    res = mps_transform_create(&t1, arena);
-    Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
-    res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, t1);
-    Insist(res == MPS_RES_OK);
-    Insist(applied);
-    after(myrootExact, perset, 1, 0, 2, 0);
   }
 
   /* Large number of objects */
@@ -663,6 +671,7 @@ static void Transform(mps_arena_t arena, mps_ap_t ap)
     }
     res = mps_transform_apply(&applied, t);
     Insist(applied);
+    mps_transform_destroy(t);
     Insist(myrootExact[old] == myrootExact[new]);
     after(myrootExact, perset, 1, -(longest_t)count, 2, +(longest_t)count);
   }
diff --git a/mps/manual/source/topic/transform.rst b/mps/manual/source/topic/transform.rst
index b2a5d64981e..1d19809aece 100644
--- a/mps/manual/source/topic/transform.rst
+++ b/mps/manual/source/topic/transform.rst
@@ -153,12 +153,12 @@ Interface
     updated. (That is, either *all* of the transform is applied, or
     *none* of it.)
 
-    If the transform was successfully applied, it is destroyed, as if
-    :c:func:`mps_transform_destroy` had been called.
+    The transform can only be applied once, and should be destroyed
+    after use, using :c:func:`mps_transform_destroy`.
 
 
 .. c:function:: void mps_transform_destroy(mps_transform_t transform)
 
-    Destroy a :term:`transform`.
+    Destroy a :term:`transform`, allowing its resources to be recycled.
 
     ``transform`` is the transform to destroy.