diff --git a/src/helper.cpp b/src/helper.cpp
index d48911e7..bda576df 100644
--- a/src/helper.cpp
+++ b/src/helper.cpp
@@ -148,12 +148,14 @@ Filter initializeFilterFromCLI (const CLI& cli)
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-void populateTimelineFromData (
-  Timeline& timeline,
+Timeline createTimelineFromData (
   const Rules& rules,
   Database& database,
   const Filter& filter)
 {
+  Timeline t;
+
+  return t;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/timew.h b/src/timew.h
index d8cc4c5f..e612c642 100644
--- a/src/timew.h
+++ b/src/timew.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Color tagColor (const Rules&, const std::string&);
 std::string intervalSummarize (const Rules&, const Interval&);
 void expandIntervalHint (const std::string&, std::string&, std::string&);
 Filter initializeFilterFromCLI (const CLI&);
-void populateTimelineFromData (Timeline&, const Rules&, Database&, const Filter&);
+Timeline createTimelineFromData (const Rules&, Database&, const Filter&);
 Interval getLatestInterval (Timeline&, Database&, const Filter&);
 
 // utiŀ.cpp