diff --git a/src/kernel/messages.c b/src/kernel/messages.c
index d3cd4f99b..b8d33f08c 100644
--- a/src/kernel/messages.c
+++ b/src/kernel/messages.c
@@ -258,15 +258,14 @@ message * msg_error(const unit * u, struct order *ord, int mno) {
     return msg_feedback(u, ord, msgname, "");
 }
 
-message * cmistake(const unit * u, struct order *ord, int mno, int mtype)
+void cmistake(const unit * u, struct order *ord, int mno, int mtype)
 {
-    message * result;
+    message * msg;
     UNUSED_ARG(mtype);
-    result = msg_error(u, ord, mno);
-    if (result) {
-        ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, result);
+    msg = msg_error(u, ord, mno);
+    if (msg) {
+        ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg);
     }
-    return result;
 }
 
 void syntax_error(const struct unit *u, struct order *ord)
diff --git a/src/kernel/messages.h b/src/kernel/messages.h
index a42342153..4eca65fc1 100644
--- a/src/kernel/messages.h
+++ b/src/kernel/messages.h
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #define ADDMSG(msgs, mcreate) { message * mx = mcreate; if (mx) { assert(mx->refcount>=1); add_message(msgs, mx); msg_release(mx); } }
 
     void syntax_error(const struct unit *u, struct order *ord);
-    struct message * cmistake(const struct unit *u, struct order *ord, int mno, int mtype);
+    void cmistake(const struct unit *u, struct order *ord, int mno, int mtype);
     struct message * msg_error(const struct unit * u, struct order *ord, int mno);
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }