diff --git a/include/msgpack/object.hpp b/include/msgpack/object.hpp
index f964a50b..3a56f262 100644
--- a/include/msgpack/object.hpp
+++ b/include/msgpack/object.hpp
@@ -386,15 +386,17 @@ inline msgpack::object::implicit_type object::convert() const
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-inline void object::convert(T& v) const
+inline T& object::convert(T& v) const
 {
     msgpack::operator>>(*this, v);
+    return v;
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-inline void object::convert(T* v) const
+inline T* object::convert(T* v) const
 {
     convert(*v);
+    return v;
 }
 
 template <typename T>
diff --git a/include/msgpack/object_fwd.hpp b/include/msgpack/object_fwd.hpp
index 21483bc4..ffcc7db5 100644
--- a/include/msgpack/object_fwd.hpp
+++ b/include/msgpack/object_fwd.hpp
@@ -106,9 +106,9 @@ struct object {
     T as() const;
 
     template <typename T>
-    void convert(T& v) const;
+    T& convert(T& v) const;
     template <typename T>
-    void convert(T* v) const;
+    T* convert(T* v) const;
 
     object();