diff --git a/panda/src/express/trueClock.cxx b/panda/src/express/trueClock.cxx
index 1a2e916e45..735f7c92e7 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/trueClock.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/express/trueClock.cxx
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ get_short_raw_time() {
     int tc = GetTickCount();
     time = (double)(tc - _init_tc) * _0001;
   }
+
+  return time;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////