diff --git a/openpdf/src/main/java/com/lowagie/text/pdf/PdfPTable.java b/openpdf/src/main/java/com/lowagie/text/pdf/PdfPTable.java
index 7ab3fc43e..c04c5e635 100644
--- a/openpdf/src/main/java/com/lowagie/text/pdf/PdfPTable.java
+++ b/openpdf/src/main/java/com/lowagie/text/pdf/PdfPTable.java
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ public PdfPCell getDefaultCell() {
      * 
      * @param cell the cell element
      */    
-    public void addCell(PdfPCell cell) {
+    public PdfPCell addCell(PdfPCell cell) {
         rowCompleted = false;
         PdfPCell ncell = new PdfPCell(cell);
         
@@ -499,6 +499,8 @@ public void addCell(PdfPCell cell) {
             currentRow[currentRowIdx] = ncell;
             currentRowIdx += colspan;
         }
+
+        return ncell;
     }
     
     /**
@@ -579,8 +581,8 @@ boolean rowSpanAbove(int currRow, int currCol) {
      * 
      * @param text the text for the cell
      */    
-    public void addCell(String text) {
-        addCell(new Phrase(text));
+    public PdfPCell addCell(String text) {
+        return addCell(new Phrase(text));
     }
     
     /**
@@ -588,10 +590,11 @@ public void addCell(String text) {
      * 
      * @param table the table to be added to the cell
      */    
-    public void addCell(PdfPTable table) {
+    public PdfPCell addCell(PdfPTable table) {
         defaultCell.setTable(table);
         addCell(defaultCell);
         defaultCell.setTable(null);
+        return defaultCell;
     }
     
     /**
@@ -600,10 +603,11 @@ public void addCell(PdfPTable table) {
      * @param image the <CODE>Image</CODE> to add to the table.
      * This image will fit in the cell
      */    
-    public void addCell(Image image) {
+    public PdfPCell addCell(Image image) {
         defaultCell.setImage(image);
         addCell(defaultCell);
         defaultCell.setImage(null);
+        return defaultCell;
     }
     
     /**
@@ -611,10 +615,11 @@ public void addCell(Image image) {
      * 
      * @param phrase the <CODE>Phrase</CODE> to be added to the cell
      */    
-    public void addCell(Phrase phrase) {
+    public PdfPCell addCell(Phrase phrase) {
         defaultCell.setPhrase(phrase);
         addCell(defaultCell);
         defaultCell.setPhrase(null);
+        return defaultCell;
     }
     
     /**