diff --git a/lib/awful/client.lua.in b/lib/awful/client.lua.in
index e4bb1282..9387bc2c 100644
--- a/lib/awful/client.lua.in
+++ b/lib/awful/client.lua.in
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ end
 --- Get the master window, deprecated, see getmaster().
 function master(screen)
     util.deprecate()
-    getmaster(screen)
+    return getmaster(screen)
 end
 
 -- Set the client as slave: put it at the end of other windows.