diff --git a/proton-j/src/main/java/org/apache/qpid/proton/codec/EncoderImpl.java b/proton-j/src/main/java/org/apache/qpid/proton/codec/EncoderImpl.java
index 7bef1ae..d709a77 100644
--- a/proton-j/src/main/java/org/apache/qpid/proton/codec/EncoderImpl.java
+++ b/proton-j/src/main/java/org/apache/qpid/proton/codec/EncoderImpl.java
@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@
                             _describedDescriptorRegistry.put(descriptor, amqpType);
                         }
                     }
+
+                    return amqpType;
                 }
             }
             _typeRegistry.put(clazz, amqpType);