Abstract In this paper, we present some fixed-point theorems that are related to a set-valued Caristi-type mapping. The main results extend the recent work which was presented by Jiang and Li (Fixed Point Theory Appl. 2013:74, 2013) from a single-valued setting to a set-valued case. Further, the presented results also improve essentially many results that have appeared, because we have removed some conditions from the auxiliary function. Meanwhile, we give some partial answers to an important problem which was raised by Kirk (Colloq. Math. 36:81-86, 1976). MSC:47H10, 37C25.