diff --git a/src/env_universal_common.cpp b/src/env_universal_common.cpp
index 8466a4ab6..9c9268162 100644
--- a/src/env_universal_common.cpp
+++ b/src/env_universal_common.cpp
@@ -1385,6 +1385,8 @@ std::unique_ptr<universal_notifier_t> universal_notifier_t::new_notifier_for_str
             return make_unique<universal_notifier_named_pipe_t>(test_path);
         }
     }
+    DIE("should never reach this statement");
+    return NULL;
 }
 
 // Default implementations.