diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index 4232da8cb7..ab40db3326 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -3324,7 +3324,7 @@ static int do_for_each_reflog(struct strbuf *name, each_ref_fn fn, void *cb_data
 				struct object_id oid;
 
 				if (read_ref_full(name->buf, 0, oid.hash, NULL))
-					retval = error("bad ref for %s", name->buf);
+					error("bad ref for %s", name->buf);
 				else
 					retval = fn(name->buf, &oid, 0, cb_data);
 			}