diff --git a/core/lexer.c b/core/lexer.c
index a9ffac1..1a62e71 100644
--- a/core/lexer.c
+++ b/core/lexer.c
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ lexer_scan_ident(struct cescal_state *state, char lc, struct token *res)
 
     if (lc != '_' && !isalpha(lc)) {
         cc_error("bad identifier\n");
+        return -1;
     }
 
     buf[bufsz++] = lc;