diff --git a/parser/parse_min_expires.c b/parser/parse_min_expires.c
index 01e857556d1..00940936734 100644
--- a/parser/parse_min_expires.c
+++ b/parser/parse_min_expires.c
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ int parse_min_expires(struct sip_msg *msg)
 				set_err_reply(400, "bad headers");
 				return -1;
 		}
+		return 0;
 	}
-	return 0;
+	/* no hdr present */
+	return -1;
 }