diff --git a/src/comp/front/parser.rs b/src/comp/front/parser.rs
index 67eec424213..8141595b144 100644
--- a/src/comp/front/parser.rs
+++ b/src/comp/front/parser.rs
@@ -1838,6 +1838,7 @@ impure fn parse_native_item(parser p) -> @ast.native_item {
         }
         case (?t) {
             unexpected(p, t);
+            fail;
         }
     }
 }