diff --git a/erpnext/controllers/sales_and_purchase_return.py b/erpnext/controllers/sales_and_purchase_return.py
index 9fcb769bc8..15c270e58a 100644
--- a/erpnext/controllers/sales_and_purchase_return.py
+++ b/erpnext/controllers/sales_and_purchase_return.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ def validate_returned_items(doc):
 					)
 
 				elif ref.serial_no:
-					if not d.serial_no:
+					if d.qty and not d.serial_no:
 						frappe.throw(_("Row # {0}: Serial No is mandatory").format(d.idx))
 					else:
 						serial_nos = get_serial_nos(d.serial_no)
@@ -400,6 +400,16 @@ def make_return_doc(doctype: str, source_name: str, target_doc=None):
 			if serial_nos:
 				target_doc.serial_no = "\n".join(serial_nos)
 
+		if source_doc.get("rejected_serial_no"):
+			returned_serial_nos = get_returned_serial_nos(
+				source_doc, source_parent, serial_no_field="rejected_serial_no"
+			)
+			rejected_serial_nos = list(
+				set(get_serial_nos(source_doc.rejected_serial_no)) - set(returned_serial_nos)
+			)
+			if rejected_serial_nos:
+				target_doc.rejected_serial_no = "\n".join(rejected_serial_nos)
+
 		if doctype in ["Purchase Receipt", "Subcontracting Receipt"]:
 			returned_qty_map = get_returned_qty_map_for_row(
 				source_parent.name, source_parent.supplier, source_doc.name, doctype
@@ -610,7 +620,7 @@ def get_filters(
 	return filters
 
 
-def get_returned_serial_nos(child_doc, parent_doc):
+def get_returned_serial_nos(child_doc, parent_doc, serial_no_field="serial_no"):
 	from erpnext.stock.doctype.serial_no.serial_no import get_serial_nos
 
 	return_ref_field = frappe.scrub(child_doc.doctype)
@@ -619,7 +629,7 @@ def get_returned_serial_nos(child_doc, parent_doc):
 
 	serial_nos = []
 
-	fields = ["`{0}`.`serial_no`".format("tab" + child_doc.doctype)]
+	fields = [f"`{'tab' + child_doc.doctype}`.`{serial_no_field}`"]
 
 	filters = [
 		[parent_doc.doctype, "return_against", "=", parent_doc.name],
@@ -629,6 +639,6 @@ def get_returned_serial_nos(child_doc, parent_doc):
 	]
 
 	for row in frappe.get_all(parent_doc.doctype, fields=fields, filters=filters):
-		serial_nos.extend(get_serial_nos(row.serial_no))
+		serial_nos.extend(get_serial_nos(row.get(serial_no_field)))
 
 	return serial_nos