diff --git a/compiler/semstmts.nim b/compiler/semstmts.nim
index c8fc3e3d3b..713177742d 100644
--- a/compiler/semstmts.nim
+++ b/compiler/semstmts.nim
@@ -766,6 +766,9 @@ proc SemTypeSection(c: PContext, n: PNode): PNode =
 
 proc semParamList(c: PContext, n, genericParams: PNode, s: PSym) =
   s.typ = semProcTypeNode(c, n, genericParams, nil, s.kind)
+  if s.kind notin {skMacro, skTemplate}:
+    if s.typ.sons[0] != nil and s.typ.sons[0].kind == tyStmt:
+      localError(n.info, errGenerated, "invalid return type: 'stmt'")
 
 proc addParams(c: PContext, n: PNode, kind: TSymKind) = 
   for i in countup(1, sonsLen(n)-1):