diff --git a/src/tsl2561/tsl2561.cxx b/src/tsl2561/tsl2561.cxx
index 9fa2b4d0..104b7017 100644
--- a/src/tsl2561/tsl2561.cxx
+++ b/src/tsl2561/tsl2561.cxx
@@ -83,10 +83,11 @@ TSL2561::~TSL2561()
    mraa_i2c_stop(m_i2ControlCtx);
 }
 
-mraa_result_t
-TSL2561::getLux(int &lux)
+int
+TSL2561::getLux()
 {
     mraa_result_t error = MRAA_SUCCESS;
+    int lux;
     uint16_t rawLuxCh0;
     uint16_t rawLuxCh1;
     uint8_t ch0_low, ch0_high, ch1_low, ch1_high;
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@ TSL2561::getLux(int &lux)
     // strip off fractional portion
     lux = tempLux >> LUX_SCALE;
 
-    return error;
+    return lux;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/tsl2561/tsl2561.h b/src/tsl2561/tsl2561.h
index 7a6762b8..a1a727ed 100644
--- a/src/tsl2561/tsl2561.h
+++ b/src/tsl2561/tsl2561.h
@@ -128,11 +128,9 @@ class TSL2561{
        /**
         * Get calculated lux reading from TSL2561
         *
-        * @param lux - place holder to receive calculated lux value from TSL2561
-        *
-        * Return mraa_result_t
+        * @return the calculated lux value from the sensor
         */
-        mraa_result_t getLux(int &lux);
+        int getLux();
 
     private:
        /**