diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/process.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/process.h
index 4f5bc3f..e6f001a 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/process.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/process.h
@@ -102,8 +102,9 @@ class Process< Slices, Serial, Inputs<Slices, I1, I2, I3, I4, I5>,
   }
 
   template <typename T>
-  void operator >> (T & target) {
+  T & operator >> (T & target) {
     GetOutput<0>() >> target.template GetInput<0>();
+    return target;
   }
 
   virtual void OnClock(int clock) {
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/select.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/select.h
index f3a499f..e184e2b 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/select.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/select.h
@@ -105,8 +105,9 @@ class Select
   }
 
   template <typename T>
-  void operator >> (T & target) {
+  T & operator >> (T & target) {
     GetOutput<0>() >> target.template GetInput<0>();
+    return target;
   }
 
   virtual void OnClock(int clock) {
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/source.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/source.h
index af9de28..b6a0f6f 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/source.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/source.h
@@ -83,8 +83,9 @@ class Source< Slices, Outputs<Slices, O1, O2, O3, O4, O5> >
   }
 
   template <typename T>
-  void operator >> (T & target) {
+  T & operator >> (T & target) {
     GetOutput<0>() >> target.template GetInput<0>();
+    return target;
   }
 
  private:
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/switch.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/switch.h
index 3bf36ee..0015ad9 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/switch.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/internal/switch.h
@@ -103,8 +103,9 @@ class Switch
   }
 
   template <typename T>
-  void operator >> (T & target) {
+  T & operator >> (T & target) {
     GetOutput<0>() >> target.template GetInput<0>();
+    return target;
   }
 
   virtual void OnClock(int clock) {
diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/test/dataflow_cpp_test_simple.cc b/dataflow_cpp/test/dataflow_cpp_test_simple.cc
index 9babf09..3b41973 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/test/dataflow_cpp_test_simple.cc
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/test/dataflow_cpp_test_simple.cc
@@ -188,11 +188,14 @@ void SimpleTest::TestBasic() {
 
     source.GetOutput<0>() >> sw.GetInput<1>();
 
-    source.GetOutput<0>() >> pred.GetInput<0>();
-    pred.GetOutput<0>() >> sw.GetInput<0>();
+    // connection chain representing the commented single connections below
+    source >> pred >> sw >> filter;
+
+    //source.GetOutput<0>() >> pred.GetInput<0>();
+    //pred.GetOutput<0>() >> sw.GetInput<0>();
     pred.GetOutput<0>() >> sel.GetInput<0>();
 
-    sw.GetOutput<0>() >> filter.GetInput<0>();
+    //sw.GetOutput<0>() >> filter.GetInput<0>();
     filter.GetOutput<0>() >> sel.GetInput<1>();
 
     constant.GetOutput<0>() >> mult.GetInput<0>();
diff --git a/doc/examples/dataflow/dataflow_connect-snippet.h b/doc/examples/dataflow/dataflow_connect-snippet.h
index 6660f53..7c7537e 100644
--- a/doc/examples/dataflow/dataflow_connect-snippet.h
+++ b/doc/examples/dataflow/dataflow_connect-snippet.h
@@ -1,2 +1 @@
-  read >> replace;
-  replace >> write;
+  read >> replace >> write;