diff --git a/Python/ceval.c b/Python/ceval.c
index 373cde9a17bba3..dd8826bf9c83f9 100644
--- a/Python/ceval.c
+++ b/Python/ceval.c
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ PyEval_InitThreads(void)
 
     _PyRuntime.ceval.pending.lock = PyThread_allocate_lock();
     if (_PyRuntime.ceval.pending.lock == NULL) {
-        return Py_FatalError("Can't initialize threads for pending calls");
+        Py_FatalError("Can't initialize threads for pending calls");
     }
 }