diff --git a/data/mods/default/init.lua b/data/mods/default/init.lua
index 47bdafd7..9c1ce4ef 100644
--- a/data/mods/default/init.lua
+++ b/data/mods/default/init.lua
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@
 --   ^ Returns nil for unloaded area
 -- - get_node_light(pos, timeofday) -> 0...15 or nil
 --   ^ timeofday: nil = current time, 0 = night, 0.5 = day
--- - add_entity(pos, name)
+-- - add_entity(pos, name): Returns ObjectRef or nil if failed
 -- - add_item(pos, itemstring)
 -- - add_rat(pos)
 -- - add_firefly(pos)
diff --git a/src/scriptapi.cpp b/src/scriptapi.cpp
index 4dcb66c7..6b850b19 100644
--- a/src/scriptapi.cpp
+++ b/src/scriptapi.cpp
@@ -2352,8 +2352,13 @@ private:
 		const char *name = luaL_checkstring(L, 3);
 		// Do it
 		ServerActiveObject *obj = new LuaEntitySAO(env, pos, name, "");
-		env->addActiveObject(obj);
-		return 0;
+		int objectid = env->addActiveObject(obj);
+		// If failed to add, return nothing (reads as nil)
+		if(objectid == 0)
+			return 0;
+		// Return ObjectRef
+		objectref_get_or_create(L, obj);
+		return 1;
 	}
 
 	// EnvRef:add_item(pos, inventorystring)