diff --git a/compiler/libpc300/sc1.c b/compiler/libpc300/sc1.c
index 7a097918..1cdcf643 100755
--- a/compiler/libpc300/sc1.c
+++ b/compiler/libpc300/sc1.c
@@ -5251,6 +5251,11 @@ static void doreturn(void)
       error(78);                        /* mix "return;" and "return value;" */
     ident=doexpr(TRUE,FALSE,TRUE,TRUE,&tag,&sym,TRUE);
     needtoken(tTERM);
+	if (ident == iARRAY && sym == NULL) {
+		/* returning a literal string is not supported (it must be a variable) */
+		error(39);
+		ident = iCONSTEXPR;                 /* avoid handling an "array" case */
+	} /* if */
     /* see if this function already has a sub type (an array attached) */
     sub=finddepend(curfunc);
     assert(sub==NULL || sub->ident==iREFARRAY);