diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/action/ActionRequest.java b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/action/ActionRequest.java
index 2254472dd6801..1459619e08db5 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/action/ActionRequest.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/action/ActionRequest.java
@@ -70,8 +70,9 @@ public boolean getShouldStoreResult() {
         return false;
     }
 
-    public void runAs(Subject runAs) {
+    public ActionRequest runAs(Subject runAs) {
         this.runAs = runAs;
+        return this;
     }
 
     public Subject getRunAs() {