diff --git a/bfd/cpu-h8300.c b/bfd/cpu-h8300.c
index 4e36952d95b..7d6b5d2bc0c 100644
--- a/bfd/cpu-h8300.c
+++ b/bfd/cpu-h8300.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ h8300_scan (info, string)
   if (*string == ':')
     {
       string++;
-      h8300_scan (info, string);
+      return h8300_scan (info, string);
     }
 
   if (*string == 'h' || *string == 'H')