diff --git a/include/pybind11/pytypes.h b/include/pybind11/pytypes.h
index 73a47ec88..f8f0fe33c 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/pytypes.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/pytypes.h
@@ -409,6 +409,7 @@ public:
                 return m_lazy_what.c_str();
             } catch (...) {
                 m_lazy_what = "Unknown internal error occurred";
+                return m_lazy_what.c_str();
             }
         }
         return m_lazy_what.c_str();