diff --git a/src/adaptors/mod.rs b/src/adaptors/mod.rs
index cf9642bc5..191d551da 100644
--- a/src/adaptors/mod.rs
+++ b/src/adaptors/mod.rs
@@ -280,10 +280,10 @@ where
 
     /// Put back a single value to the front of the iterator.
     ///
-    /// If a value is already in the put back slot, it is overwritten.
+    /// If a value is already in the put back slot, it is returned.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn put_back(&mut self, x: I::Item) {
-        self.top = Some(x);
+    pub fn put_back(&mut self, x: I::Item) -> Option<I::Item> {
+        self.top.replace(x)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/quick.rs b/tests/quick.rs
index b2982a6ef..e345c9813 100644
--- a/tests/quick.rs
+++ b/tests/quick.rs
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ quickcheck! {
     fn size_put_back(a: Vec<u8>, x: Option<u8>) -> bool {
         let mut it = put_back(a.into_iter());
         if let Some(t) = x {
-            it.put_back(t)
+            it.put_back(t);
         }
         correct_size_hint(it)
     }