diff --git a/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_Array.h b/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_Array.h
index 6940344620..df2b5a82f8 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_Array.h
+++ b/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_Array.h
@@ -728,6 +728,7 @@ public:
 
         if (isPositiveAndBelow (indexToRemove, numUsed))
         {
+            jassert (data.elements != nullptr);
             ElementType removed (data.elements[indexToRemove]);
             removeInternal (indexToRemove);
             return removed;
diff --git a/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_ReferenceCountedArray.h b/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_ReferenceCountedArray.h
index c792d8766c..59a3bcb63a 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_ReferenceCountedArray.h
+++ b/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_ReferenceCountedArray.h
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ public:
         @param newObject       the new object to add to the array
         @see set, insert, addIfNotAlreadyThere, addSorted, addArray
     */
-    void add (ObjectClass* const newObject) noexcept
+    ObjectClass* add (ObjectClass* const newObject) noexcept
     {
         const ScopedLockType lock (getLock());
         data.ensureAllocatedSize (numUsed + 1);
@@ -302,6 +302,8 @@ public:
 
         if (newObject != nullptr)
             newObject->incReferenceCount();
+
+        return newObject;
     }
 
     /** Inserts a new object into the array at the given index.
@@ -317,8 +319,8 @@ public:
         @param newObject            the new object to add to the array
         @see add, addSorted, addIfNotAlreadyThere, set
     */
-    void insert (int indexToInsertAt,
-                 ObjectClass* const newObject) noexcept
+    ObjectClass* insert (int indexToInsertAt,
+                         ObjectClass* const newObject) noexcept
     {
         if (indexToInsertAt >= 0)
         {
@@ -342,10 +344,12 @@ public:
                 newObject->incReferenceCount();
 
             ++numUsed;
+
+            return newObject;
         }
         else
         {
-            add (newObject);
+            return add (newObject);
         }
     }