diff --git a/sol/reference.hpp b/sol/reference.hpp
index ed843c3..943570d 100644
--- a/sol/reference.hpp
+++ b/sol/reference.hpp
@@ -46,8 +46,9 @@ class reference {
         luaL_unref(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, ref);
     }
 
-    void push() const noexcept {
+    int push() const noexcept {
         lua_rawgeti(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, ref);
+	return 1;
     }
 
     reference(reference&& o) noexcept {