diff --git a/python/lammps/core.py b/python/lammps/core.py
index 3eb74cb550..89a3dd2bf0 100644
--- a/python/lammps/core.py
+++ b/python/lammps/core.py
@@ -1694,7 +1694,6 @@ class lammps(object):
 
     with ExceptionCheck(self):
       return self.lib.lammps_eval(self.lmp, newexpr)
-    return None
 
   # -------------------------------------------------------------------------