diff --git a/src/journal-remote/microhttpd-util.c b/src/journal-remote/microhttpd-util.c
index 48e4b1414c..271e304273 100644
--- a/src/journal-remote/microhttpd-util.c
+++ b/src/journal-remote/microhttpd-util.c
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ int check_permissions(struct MHD_Connection *connection, int *code, char **hostn
 }
 
 #else
-int check_permissions(struct MHD_Connection *connection, int *code, char **hostname) {
+_noreturn_ int check_permissions(struct MHD_Connection *connection, int *code, char **hostname) {
         assert_not_reached();
 }