diff --git a/src/pattern.c b/src/pattern.c
index da81e17513..90f386e9a6 100644
--- a/src/pattern.c
+++ b/src/pattern.c
@@ -1792,6 +1792,7 @@ int pat_ref_set(struct pat_ref *ref, const char *key, const char *value, char **
 		if (!pat_ref_set_elt(ref, elt, value, &tmp_err)) {
 			memprintf(err, "%s, %s", err && *err ? *err : "", tmp_err);
 			ha_free(&tmp_err);
+			return 0;
 		}
 		found = 1;
 	}