diff --git a/doc/api/diagnostics_channel.md b/doc/api/diagnostics_channel.md
index 52a9ac9808414a..47df6a42994257 100644
--- a/doc/api/diagnostics_channel.md
+++ b/doc/api/diagnostics_channel.md
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ added:
 changes:
   - version: REPLACEME
     pr-url: https://github.com/nodejs/node/pull/40433
-    description: Added return value.
+    description: Added return value. Added to channels without subscribers.
 -->
 
 * `onMessage` {Function} The previous subscribed handler to remove
diff --git a/lib/diagnostics_channel.js b/lib/diagnostics_channel.js
index 813cda5bb3e83a..c85a9532b4d372 100644
--- a/lib/diagnostics_channel.js
+++ b/lib/diagnostics_channel.js
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ class Channel {
     this.subscribe(subscription);
   }
 
+  unsubscribe() {
+    return false;
+  }
+
   get hasSubscribers() {
     return false;
   }