diff --git a/openmc/universe.py b/openmc/universe.py
index e46d4d0275..9931724fbb 100644
--- a/openmc/universe.py
+++ b/openmc/universe.py
@@ -762,12 +762,18 @@ class DAGMCUniverse(UniverseBase):
             return +lower_x & -upper_x & +lower_y & -upper_y & +lower_z & -upper_z
 
     def bounded_universe(self, **kwargs):
-        """Returns an openmc.Universe filled with this DAGMCUniverse and bounded
-        with a cell. Defaults to a box cell with a vacuum surface. kwargs are
-        passed directly to DAGMCUniverse.bounding_region()"""
+        """Returns an openmc.Cell that bounds the DAGMCUniverse and is filled
+        with the DAGMCUniverse. Defaults to a box cell with a vacuum surface.
+        kwargs are passed directly to DAGMCUniverse.bounding_region()
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        openmc.Cell
+            cell filled with the DAGMCUniverse
+        """
 
         bounding_cell = openmc.Cell(fill=self, region=self.bounding_region(**kwargs))
-        return openmc.Universe(cells=[bounding_cell])
+        return bounding_cell
 
     @classmethod
     def from_hdf5(cls, group):