diff --git a/cores/esp8266/CallBackList.h b/cores/esp8266/CallBackList.h
index 187c86c2ad..8d419cbb89 100644
--- a/cores/esp8266/CallBackList.h
+++ b/cores/esp8266/CallBackList.h
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class CallBackList
 	}
 
     template<typename... Args>
-    void execute(Args... params) {
+    int execute(Args... params) {
         for(auto it = std::begin(callBackEventList); it != std::end(callBackEventList); ) {
         	CallBackHandler &handler = *it;
             if (handler->allowRemove() && handler.unique()) {
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ class CallBackList
                 ++it;
             }
         }
+        return callBackEventList.size();
     }
 };