diff --git a/include/qom/object.h b/include/qom/object.h
index 5e2f60d4b0..18660fde1c 100644
--- a/include/qom/object.h
+++ b/include/qom/object.h
@@ -1005,8 +1005,9 @@ GSList *object_class_get_list_sorted(const char *implements_type,
  *
  * Increase the reference count of a object.  A object cannot be freed as long
  * as its reference count is greater than zero.
+ * Returns: @obj
  */
-void object_ref(Object *obj);
+Object *object_ref(Object *obj);
 
 /**
  * object_unref:
diff --git a/qom/object.c b/qom/object.c
index 66c4a5f1cb..555c8b9d07 100644
--- a/qom/object.c
+++ b/qom/object.c
@@ -1107,12 +1107,13 @@ GSList *object_class_get_list_sorted(const char *implements_type,
                         object_class_cmp);
 }
 
-void object_ref(Object *obj)
+Object *object_ref(Object *obj)
 {
     if (!obj) {
-        return;
+        return NULL;
     }
     atomic_inc(&obj->ref);
+    return obj;
 }
 
 void object_unref(Object *obj)