diff --git a/ext/standard/exec.c b/ext/standard/exec.c
index ffa4d444dd6..21ebba891df 100644
--- a/ext/standard/exec.c
+++ b/ext/standard/exec.c
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ done:
 	return pclose_return;
 err:
 	pclose_return = -1;
+	RETVAL_FALSE;
 	goto done;
 }
 /* }}} */