diff --git a/src/nvim/ex_getln.c b/src/nvim/ex_getln.c
index 7be8d722b8..2bfe574b1d 100644
--- a/src/nvim/ex_getln.c
+++ b/src/nvim/ex_getln.c
@@ -4783,6 +4783,7 @@ int hist_type2char(int type)
       assert(false);
     }
   }
+  return NUL;
 }
 
 /*