diff --git a/src/or/circuituse.c b/src/or/circuituse.c
index 247aca7e07e79e6c9c328c8d44872e104216a777..6a9c3975c229dce1480e8d1469791bb8c0445df1 100644
--- a/src/or/circuituse.c
+++ b/src/or/circuituse.c
@@ -1573,6 +1573,7 @@ connection_ap_handshake_attach_circuit(edge_connection_t *conn)
           return -1;
         default: /* oops */
           tor_fragile_assert();
+          return -1;
         }
       }
     }