diff --git a/qiskit/providers/ibmq/runtime/program/program_template.py b/qiskit/providers/ibmq/runtime/program/program_template.py
index e5c328e96..85ad5810e 100644
--- a/qiskit/providers/ibmq/runtime/program/program_template.py
+++ b/qiskit/providers/ibmq/runtime/program/program_template.py
@@ -39,8 +39,11 @@ def main(backend: ProgramBackend, user_messenger: UserMessenger, **kwargs):
         backend: Backend for the circuits to run on.
         user_messenger: Used to communicate with the program user.
         kwargs: User inputs.
+    
+    Returns:
+        The final result of the runtime program.
     """
     # Massage the input if necessary.
     result = program(backend, user_messenger, **kwargs)
-    # UserMessenger can be used to publish final results.
-    user_messenger.publish(result, final=True)
+    # final results can be directly returned
+    return result