diff --git a/lib/torque/profiler.js b/lib/torque/profiler.js
index 3febf59..1b83ca3 100644
--- a/lib/torque/profiler.js
+++ b/lib/torque/profiler.js
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ Metric.prototype = {
   //
   start: function() {
     this.t0 = +new Date();
+    return this;
   },
 
   // elapsed time since start was called