diff --git a/include/gtl/phmap.hpp b/include/gtl/phmap.hpp
index e0aa5cf..4b4f591 100644
--- a/include/gtl/phmap.hpp
+++ b/include/gtl/phmap.hpp
@@ -826,8 +826,9 @@ inline ctrl_t* EmptyGroup() {
                                                               kEmpty,    kEmpty, kEmpty, kEmpty, kEmpty, kEmpty,
                                                               kEmpty,    kEmpty, kEmpty, kEmpty };
         return const_cast<ctrl_t*>(empty_group);
+    } else {
+        return nullptr;
     }
-    return nullptr;
 }
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------