diff --git a/libraries/db/include/graphene/db/index.hpp b/libraries/db/include/graphene/db/index.hpp
index 7ecf5a66..aebdb8b9 100644
--- a/libraries/db/include/graphene/db/index.hpp
+++ b/libraries/db/include/graphene/db/index.hpp
@@ -165,9 +165,10 @@ namespace graphene { namespace db {
          void on_modify( const object& obj );
 
          template<typename T>
-         void add_secondary_index()
+         T* add_secondary_index()
          {
             _sindex.emplace_back( new T() );
+            return static_cast<T*>(_sindex.back().get());
          }
 
          template<typename T>