diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc b/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc
index a69ef76af7..fd25cdc512 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/audio_clock.cc
@@ -587,6 +587,7 @@ AudioClock::get_field (Field f)
 		return edit_string;
 		break;
 	}
+	return "";
 }
 
 void