diff --git a/fileref.cpp b/fileref.cpp
index f5d4bcaa..2aaaa240 100644
--- a/fileref.cpp
+++ b/fileref.cpp
@@ -95,9 +95,10 @@ bool FileRef::save()
   return d->file->save();
 }
 
-void FileRef::addFileTypeResolver(const FileTypeResolver *resolver) // static
+const FileRef::FileTypeResolver *FileRef::addFileTypeResolver(const FileRef::FileTypeResolver *resolver) // static
 {
   FileRefPrivate::fileTypeResolvers.prepend(resolver);
+  return resolver;
 }
 
 StringList FileRef::defaultFileExtensions()
diff --git a/fileref.h b/fileref.h
index 98be9ab6..6fd9fddb 100644
--- a/fileref.h
+++ b/fileref.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ namespace TagLib {
   class FileRef
   {
   public:
-
+    
   //! A class for pluggable file type resolution.
 
   /*!
@@ -182,9 +182,13 @@ namespace TagLib {
      * that are tried.  If the FileTypeResolver returns zero the next resolver
      * is tried.
      *
+     * Returns a pointer to the added resolver (the same one that's passed in --
+     * this is mostly so that static inialializers have something to use for
+     * assignment).
+     *
      * \see FileTypeResolver
      */
-    static void addFileTypeResolver(const FileTypeResolver *resolver);
+    static const FileTypeResolver *addFileTypeResolver(const FileTypeResolver *resolver);
 
     /*!
      * As is mentioned elsewhere in this class's documentation, the default file