diff --git a/pandera/api/pyspark/container.py b/pandera/api/pyspark/container.py
index cef8675c9..880c1dd1b 100644
--- a/pandera/api/pyspark/container.py
+++ b/pandera/api/pyspark/container.py
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ def validate(
             [Row(product='Bread', price=9), Row(product='Butter', price=15)]
         """
         if not CONFIG.validation_enabled:
-            return
+            return check_obj
         error_handler = ErrorHandler(lazy)
 
         return self._validate(