diff --git a/doc/api/projects.md b/doc/api/projects.md
index b25c9080080..de1faadebf5 100644
--- a/doc/api/projects.md
+++ b/doc/api/projects.md
@@ -617,7 +617,6 @@ Example response:
 }
 ```
 
-
 ### Archive a project
 
 Archives the project if the user is either admin or the project owner of this project. This action is
diff --git a/lib/api/helpers.rb b/lib/api/helpers.rb
index aa0597564ed..54452f763a6 100644
--- a/lib/api/helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/api/helpers.rb
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ module API
     end
 
     def not_modified!
-      render_api_error!('304 Not modified', 304)
+      render_api_error!('304 Not Modified', 304)
     end
 
     def render_validation_error!(model)
diff --git a/lib/api/projects.rb b/lib/api/projects.rb
index c7fdfbfe57b..cc2c7a0c503 100644
--- a/lib/api/projects.rb
+++ b/lib/api/projects.rb
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@ module API
         else
           current_user.toggle_star(user_project)
           user_project.reload
+
           present user_project, with: Entities::Project
         end
       end
@@ -293,11 +294,12 @@ module API
       # Parameters:
       #   id (required) - The ID of a project
       # Example Request:
-      #   DELETE /projects/:id/unstar
+      #   DELETE /projects/:id/star
       delete ':id/star' do
         if current_user.starred?(user_project)
           current_user.toggle_star(user_project)
           user_project.reload
+
           present user_project, with: Entities::Project
         else
           not_modified!
diff --git a/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb b/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb
index 2a7c55fe65e..fccd08bd6da 100644
--- a/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/api/projects_spec.rb
@@ -1023,7 +1023,7 @@ describe API::API, api: true  do
   describe 'POST /projects/:id/star' do
     context 'on an unstarred project' do
       it 'stars the project' do
-        post api("/projects/#{project.id}/star", user)
+        expect { post api("/projects/#{project.id}/star", user) }.to change { project.reload.star_count }.by(1)
 
         expect(response.status).to eq(201)
         expect(json_response['star_count']).to eq(1)
@@ -1037,10 +1037,9 @@ describe API::API, api: true  do
       end
 
       it 'does not modify the star count' do
-        post api("/projects/#{project.id}/star", user)
+        expect { post api("/projects/#{project.id}/star", user) }.not_to change { project.reload.star_count }
 
         expect(response.status).to eq(304)
-        expect(project.star_count).to eq(1)
       end
     end
   end
@@ -1053,7 +1052,7 @@ describe API::API, api: true  do
       end
 
       it 'unstars the project' do
-        delete api("/projects/#{project.id}/star", user)
+        expect { delete api("/projects/#{project.id}/star", user) }.to change { project.reload.star_count }.by(-1)
 
         expect(response.status).to eq(200)
         expect(json_response['star_count']).to eq(0)
@@ -1062,10 +1061,9 @@ describe API::API, api: true  do
 
     context 'on an unstarred project' do
       it 'does not modify the star count' do
-        delete api("/projects/#{project.id}/star", user)
+        expect { delete api("/projects/#{project.id}/star", user) }.not_to change { project.reload.star_count }
 
         expect(response.status).to eq(304)
-        expect(project.star_count).to eq(0)
       end
     end
   end