diff --git a/qom/object.c b/qom/object.c
index 157a45c5f8..28c5b66eab 100644
--- a/qom/object.c
+++ b/qom/object.c
@@ -2079,7 +2079,6 @@ const char *object_get_canonical_path_component(const Object *obj)
 
     /* obj had a parent but was not a child, should never happen */
     g_assert_not_reached();
-    return NULL;
 }
 
 char *object_get_canonical_path(const Object *obj)