diff --git a/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_compression_options.c b/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_compression_options.c
index c5668fdab4fa6fa214c6a10deeade0ba3bf363c0..6200dbafeb86abbe646d9f3e09a471a32800f061 100644
--- a/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_compression_options.c
+++ b/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_compression_options.c
@@ -283,6 +283,8 @@ VALUE grpc_rb_compression_options_level_value_to_name_internal(
           rb_eArgError,
           "Failed to convert compression level value to name for value: %d",
           (int)compression_value);
+      /* return something to avoid compiler error about no return */
+      return Qnil;
   }
 }