diff --git a/compiler/semstmts.nim b/compiler/semstmts.nim
index b9b1759626..3d9363d773 100644
--- a/compiler/semstmts.nim
+++ b/compiler/semstmts.nim
@@ -1440,7 +1440,7 @@ proc semStmtList(c: PContext, n: PNode, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
           of nkPragma, nkCommentStmt, nkNilLit, nkEmpty: discard
           else: localError(n.sons[j].info, errStmtInvalidAfterReturn)
       else: discard
-  if result.len == 1:
+  if result.len == 1 and result.sons[0].kind != nkDefer:
     result = result.sons[0]
   when defined(nimfix):
     if result.kind == nkCommentStmt and not result.comment.isNil and