diff --git a/asyncpg/pool.py b/asyncpg/pool.py
index 06e698df..4d6ed7c1 100644
--- a/asyncpg/pool.py
+++ b/asyncpg/pool.py
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ def __init__(self, *connect_args,
 
     async def _async__init__(self):
         if self._initialized:
-            return
+            return self
         if self._initializing:
             raise exceptions.InterfaceError(
                 'pool is being initialized in another task')