diff --git a/include/privilege.h b/include/privilege.h
index 4eb7564b..c454efca 100644
--- a/include/privilege.h
+++ b/include/privilege.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ int privilegeset_in_set(struct PrivilegeSet *set, const char *priv);
 struct PrivilegeSet *privilegeset_set_new(const char *name, const char *privs, PrivilegeFlags flags);
 struct PrivilegeSet *privilegeset_extend(struct PrivilegeSet *parent, const char *name, const char *privs, PrivilegeFlags flags);
 struct PrivilegeSet *privilegeset_get(const char *name);
-void privilegeset_ref(struct PrivilegeSet *set);
+struct PrivilegeSet *privilegeset_ref(struct PrivilegeSet *set);
 void privilegeset_unref(struct PrivilegeSet *set);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/privilege.c b/src/privilege.c
index 40bdbcd8..060cf489 100644
--- a/src/privilege.c
+++ b/src/privilege.c
@@ -95,12 +95,14 @@ privilegeset_get(const char *name)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-void
+struct PrivilegeSet *
 privilegeset_ref(struct PrivilegeSet *set)
 {
 	s_assert(set != NULL);
 
 	set->refs++;
+
+	return set;
 }
 
 void