diff --git a/src/PowerPlant.hpp b/src/PowerPlant.hpp
index 550d0869e..9ec3374db 100644
--- a/src/PowerPlant.hpp
+++ b/src/PowerPlant.hpp
@@ -122,9 +122,11 @@ class PowerPlant {
      *
      * @tparam T        The type of the reactor to build and install
      * @tparam level    The initial logging level for this reactor to use
+     *
+     * @return A reference to the installed reactor
      */
     template <typename T>
-    void install();
+    T& install();
 
     /**
      * @brief Generic submit function for submitting tasks to the thread pool.
diff --git a/src/PowerPlant.ipp b/src/PowerPlant.ipp
index e31d4115c..3f12de36b 100644
--- a/src/PowerPlant.ipp
+++ b/src/PowerPlant.ipp
@@ -53,13 +53,15 @@ inline PowerPlant::PowerPlant(Configuration config, int argc, const char* argv[]
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-void PowerPlant::install() {
+T& PowerPlant::install() {
 
     // Make sure that the class that we received is a reactor
     static_assert(std::is_base_of<Reactor, T>::value, "You must install Reactors");
 
     // The reactor constructor should handle subscribing to events
     reactors.push_back(std::make_unique<T>(std::make_unique<Environment>(*this, util::demangle(typeid(T).name()))));
+
+    return static_cast<T&>(*reactors.back());
 }
 
 // Default emit with no types