diff --git a/packages/create-firefly/templates/snippets/custom-database/typescript/define-database.template b/packages/create-firefly/templates/snippets/custom-database/typescript/define-database.template
index 8d9969b..bf1bb42 100644
--- a/packages/create-firefly/templates/snippets/custom-database/typescript/define-database.template
+++ b/packages/create-firefly/templates/snippets/custom-database/typescript/define-database.template
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 /* implement a database using the firefly database interface */
 class CustomDatabase extends Database {
     
-    async connect(): Promise<void> {
+    async connect(): Promise<CustomDatabase> {
         super.displayConnectionMessage();
+        return this;
     }
 
     isConnected(): boolean {
diff --git a/packages/firefly/types/index.d.ts b/packages/firefly/types/index.d.ts
index a779c7a..7759b1d 100644
--- a/packages/firefly/types/index.d.ts
+++ b/packages/firefly/types/index.d.ts
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ declare module "@outwalk/firefly/mongoose" {
         constructor(options?: { url?: string; } & ConnectOptions);
 
         plugin(plugin: any): void;
-        connect(): Promise<Database>;
+        connect(): Promise<MongooseDatabase>;
         isConnected(): boolean;
 
         static get connection(): Connection;