diff --git a/base.py b/base.py
index 2730503..f9d54b2 100644
--- a/base.py
+++ b/base.py
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@ class ServiceManager:
         self.info = result
         if len(self.info) == 1:
             self.single_ins = list(self.info)[0]
+        return result
 
     #def get_cmdpats(self, groups):
     #    return self.cmdpats
diff --git a/nicosman.py b/nicosman.py
index 7799cdc..00e4e57 100644
--- a/nicosman.py
+++ b/nicosman.py
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ class NicosManager(ServiceManager):
                     print('ambiguos package: %s' % ', '.join(instdir))
                 else:
                     env['NICOS_PACKAGE'] = basename(dirname(instdir[0]))
+        return self.info
 
     def do_create(self, ins, *args):
         if ins == 'check':