diff --git a/Magick++/lib/BlobRef.cpp b/Magick++/lib/BlobRef.cpp
index 00d489bba7..e85728b0d2 100644
--- a/Magick++/lib/BlobRef.cpp
+++ b/Magick++/lib/BlobRef.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ size_t Magick::BlobRef::decrease()
       _mutexLock.unlock();
       throwExceptionExplicit(MagickCore::OptionError,
         "Invalid call to decrease");
+      return(0);
     }
   count=--_refCount;
   _mutexLock.unlock();