diff --git a/documentation/overview.md b/documentation/overview.md
index 4b2976385..0ce78d4e1 100644
--- a/documentation/overview.md
+++ b/documentation/overview.md
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ Smack Key Advantages
 
     ```java
     AbstractXMPPConnection connection = new XMPPTCPConnection("mtucker", "password", "jabber.org");
-    connection.connect();
-    connection.login();
+    connection.connect().login();
+
     Chat chat = ChatManager.getInstanceFor(connection)
         .createChat("jsmith@jivesoftware.com", new MessageListener() {
 
diff --git a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java
index 6ff0bcb96..349df3f17 100644
--- a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java
+++ b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java
@@ -378,13 +378,15 @@ public abstract class AbstractXMPPConnection implements XMPPConnection {
      * @throws SmackException if an error occurs somewhere else besides XMPP protocol level.
      * @throws IOException 
      * @throws ConnectionException with detailed information about the failed connection.
+     * @return a reference to this object, to chain <code>connect()</code> with <code>login()</code>.
      */
-    public synchronized void connect() throws SmackException, IOException, XMPPException {
+    public synchronized AbstractXMPPConnection connect() throws SmackException, IOException, XMPPException {
         throwAlreadyConnectedExceptionIfAppropriate();
         saslAuthentication.init();
         saslFeatureReceived.init();
         lastFeaturesReceived.init();
         connectInternal();
+        return this;
     }
 
     /**