diff --git a/celery/canvas.py b/celery/canvas.py
index f8278c6002..c26312a28c 100644
--- a/celery/canvas.py
+++ b/celery/canvas.py
@@ -662,8 +662,16 @@ def run(self, args=None, kwargs=None, group_id=None, chord=None,
             first_task = tasks.pop()
             options = _prepare_chain_from_options(options, tasks, use_link)
 
-            first_task.apply_async(**options)
-            return results[0]
+            real_result = first_task.apply_async(**options)
+            # If we only have a single task, it may be important that we pass
+            # the real result object rather than the one obtained via freezing.
+            # e.g. For `GroupResult`s, we need to pass back the result object
+            # which will actually have its promise fulfilled by the subtasks,
+            # something that will never occur for the frozen result.
+            if not tasks:
+                return real_result
+            else:
+                return results[0]
 
     def freeze(self, _id=None, group_id=None, chord=None,
                root_id=None, parent_id=None, group_index=None):