diff --git a/gc.c b/gc.c
index 1ad29fbac3..936f466f9c 100644
--- a/gc.c
+++ b/gc.c
@@ -4443,7 +4443,8 @@ handle_malloc_failure(void *ptr)
         return ptr;
     }
     else {
-        return ruby_memerror_body(ptr);
+        ruby_memerror();
+        UNREACHABLE_RETURN(ptr);
     }
 }