diff --git a/include/vlc/libvlc_media_list_player.h b/include/vlc/libvlc_media_list_player.h
index 57c1d0836d..d0db6e0de4 100644
--- a/include/vlc/libvlc_media_list_player.h
+++ b/include/vlc/libvlc_media_list_player.h
@@ -78,8 +78,9 @@ LIBVLC_API void
  * libvlc_media_list_player_release() to decrement reference count.
  *
  * \param p_mlp media player list object
+ * \return the same object
  */
-LIBVLC_API void
+LIBVLC_API libvlc_media_list_player_t *
     libvlc_media_list_player_retain( libvlc_media_list_player_t *p_mlp );
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/media_list_player.c b/lib/media_list_player.c
index ac7e3b8c84..002e32166c 100644
--- a/lib/media_list_player.c
+++ b/lib/media_list_player.c
@@ -542,10 +542,11 @@ void libvlc_media_list_player_release(libvlc_media_list_player_t * p_mlp)
 /**************************************************************************
  *        retain (Public)
  **************************************************************************/
-void libvlc_media_list_player_retain(libvlc_media_list_player_t * p_mlp)
+libvlc_media_list_player_t *libvlc_media_list_player_retain(libvlc_media_list_player_t * p_mlp)
 {
     assert(p_mlp);
     vlc_atomic_rc_inc(&p_mlp->rc);
+    return p_mlp;
 }
 
 /**************************************************************************