diff --git a/src/error.cpp b/src/error.cpp
index 392624f40b..7458f816c0 100644
--- a/src/error.cpp
+++ b/src/error.cpp
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ void Error::universe_one(const std::string &file, int line, const std::string &s
   throw LAMMPSAbortException(mesg, universe->uworld);
 #else
   MPI_Abort(universe->uworld,1);
+  exit(1); // to trick "smart" compilers into believing this does not return
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -205,6 +206,7 @@ void Error::one(const std::string &file, int line, const std::string &str)
   if (screen) fflush(screen);
   if (logfile) fflush(logfile);
   MPI_Abort(world,1);
+  exit(1); // to trick "smart" compilers into believing this does not return
 #endif
 }