diff --git a/src/msw/ole/dataobj.cpp b/src/msw/ole/dataobj.cpp
index d4ec164a93..4cfcee5e9e 100644
--- a/src/msw/ole/dataobj.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/ole/dataobj.cpp
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ wxString wxDataFormat::GetId() const
     if ( !len )
     {
         wxLogError(_("The clipboard format '%d' doesn't exist."), m_format);
+        return wxEmptyString;
     }
 
     return s;