diff --git a/tools/aapt2/util/Files.cpp b/tools/aapt2/util/Files.cpp
index f5e49f11c082b..042ff0e6c1b9a 100644
--- a/tools/aapt2/util/Files.cpp
+++ b/tools/aapt2/util/Files.cpp
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ std::vector<std::string> listFiles(const StringPiece& root, std::string* outErro
             std::stringstream errorStr;
             errorStr << "unable to open file: " << strerror(errno);
             *outError = errorStr.str();
-            return {};
         }
+        return {};
     }
 
     std::vector<std::string> files;