diff --git a/include/linux/iio/trigger.h b/include/linux/iio/trigger.h
index 4b79ffe7b188..fa76c79a52a1 100644
--- a/include/linux/iio/trigger.h
+++ b/include/linux/iio/trigger.h
@@ -84,10 +84,12 @@ static inline void iio_trigger_put(struct iio_trigger *trig)
 	put_device(&trig->dev);
 }
 
-static inline void iio_trigger_get(struct iio_trigger *trig)
+static inline struct iio_trigger *iio_trigger_get(struct iio_trigger *trig)
 {
 	get_device(&trig->dev);
 	__module_get(trig->ops->owner);
+
+	return trig;
 }
 
 /**