diff --git a/sys/chunked_ringbuffer/chunked_ringbuffer.c b/sys/chunked_ringbuffer/chunked_ringbuffer.c
index a3c8e592b3..9eb0e35c8c 100644
--- a/sys/chunked_ringbuffer/chunked_ringbuffer.c
+++ b/sys/chunked_ringbuffer/chunked_ringbuffer.c
@@ -87,13 +87,13 @@ static unsigned _get_cur_len(chunk_ringbuf_t *rb)
     }
 }
 
-bool crb_end_chunk(chunk_ringbuf_t *rb, bool keep)
+unsigned crb_end_chunk(chunk_ringbuf_t *rb, bool keep)
 {
     int idx;
 
     /* no chunk was started */
     if (rb->cur_start == NULL) {
-        return false;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (keep) {
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ bool crb_end_chunk(chunk_ringbuf_t *rb, bool keep)
         }
         rb->cur = rb->cur_start;
         rb->cur_start = NULL;
-        return false;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     /* store complete chunk */
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ bool crb_end_chunk(chunk_ringbuf_t *rb, bool keep)
     rb->chunk_len[idx] = _get_cur_len(rb);
     rb->cur_start = NULL;
 
-    return true;
+    return rb->chunk_len[idx];
 }
 
 bool crb_get_chunk_size(chunk_ringbuf_t *rb, size_t *len)
diff --git a/sys/include/chunked_ringbuffer.h b/sys/include/chunked_ringbuffer.h
index d1727ba02c..75cf9fa4ba 100644
--- a/sys/include/chunked_ringbuffer.h
+++ b/sys/include/chunked_ringbuffer.h
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ void crb_init(chunk_ringbuf_t *rb, void *buffer, size_t len);
  * @param[in] valid     True if the chunk is valid and should be stored
  *                      False if the current chunk should be discarded
  *
- * @return true         If the chunk could be stored in the valid chunk array
- * @return false        If there is no more space in the valid chunk array
+ * @return size of chunk if the chunk could be stored in the valid chunk array
+ * @return 0 if there is no more space in the valid chunk array
  */
-bool crb_end_chunk(chunk_ringbuf_t *rb, bool valid);
+unsigned crb_end_chunk(chunk_ringbuf_t *rb, bool valid);
 
 /**
  * @brief Start a new chunk on the ringbuffer