diff --git a/lib/master.js b/lib/master.js
index 68c6529..5476ee0 100644
--- a/lib/master.js
+++ b/lib/master.js
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ Master.prototype.start = function(fn){
   process.title = this.options.title;
 
   // prevent listen
-  if (this.preventDefault) return;
+  if (this.preventDefault) return this;
 
   // env match
   if (this.environmentMatches) {
diff --git a/test/test.cli-status.js b/test/test.cli-status.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7acac4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test.cli-status.js
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+
+/**
+ * Module dependencies.
+ */
+
+var cluster = require('../')
+  , http = require('http')
+  , fs = require('fs')
+	, Master = require('../lib/master.js');
+
+require('./common');
+
+var server = http.createServer(function(req, res){
+  setTimeout(function(){
+    res.writeHead(200);
+    res.end('Hello World');
+  }, 1000);
+});
+
+cluster = cluster(server)
+  .set('workers', 1)
+  .use(cluster.pidfiles())
+	.use(cluster.cli())
+	.in('development').listen(3000)
+	.in('staging').listen(3010);
+
+
+cluster.on('listening', function(){
+	cluster.preventDefault = true;
+	cluster.start().should.be.an.instanceof(Master);
+	cluster.close();
+});