diff --git a/tools/doc/html.js b/tools/doc/html.js
index 49be0ce36fe6fd..9b6d93b7a7bb1c 100644
--- a/tools/doc/html.js
+++ b/tools/doc/html.js
@@ -175,11 +175,9 @@ function replaceInText(text) {
 }
 
 function altDocs(filename) {
-  let html = '';
-
   if (!docCreated) {
     console.error(`Failed to add alternative version links to ${filename}`);
-    return html;
+    return '';
   }
 
   function lte(v) {