diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp
index 2f0b13bd32..7a72d0083a 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp
@@ -90,10 +90,10 @@ void Synthesiser::clearVoices()
     voices.clear();
 }
 
-void Synthesiser::addVoice (SynthesiserVoice* const newVoice)
+SynthesiserVoice* Synthesiser::addVoice (SynthesiserVoice* const newVoice)
 {
     const ScopedLock sl (lock);
-    voices.add (newVoice);
+    return voices.add (newVoice);
 }
 
 void Synthesiser::removeVoice (const int index)
@@ -108,10 +108,10 @@ void Synthesiser::clearSounds()
     sounds.clear();
 }
 
-void Synthesiser::addSound (const SynthesiserSound::Ptr& newSound)
+SynthesiserSound* Synthesiser::addSound (const SynthesiserSound::Ptr& newSound)
 {
     const ScopedLock sl (lock);
-    sounds.add (newSound);
+    return sounds.add (newSound);
 }
 
 void Synthesiser::removeSound (const int index)
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h
index 069253ba15..e765697cbd 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ public:
         it later on when no longer needed. The caller should not retain a pointer to the
         voice.
     */
-    void addVoice (SynthesiserVoice* newVoice);
+    SynthesiserVoice* addVoice (SynthesiserVoice* newVoice);
 
     /** Deletes one of the voices. */
     void removeVoice (int index);
@@ -311,10 +311,10 @@ public:
 
     /** Adds a new sound to the synthesiser.
 
-        The object passed in is reference counted, so will be deleted when it is removed
-        from the synthesiser, and when no voices are still using it.
+        The object passed in is reference counted, so will be deleted when the
+        synthesiser and all voices are no longer using it.
     */
-    void addSound (const SynthesiserSound::Ptr& newSound);
+    SynthesiserSound* addSound (const SynthesiserSound::Ptr& newSound);
 
     /** Removes and deletes one of the sounds. */
     void removeSound (int index);