diff --git a/src/mesa/drivers/dri/i965/brw_vec4.cpp b/src/mesa/drivers/dri/i965/brw_vec4.cpp
index 589de48f33a..9cbbae0212a 100644
--- a/src/mesa/drivers/dri/i965/brw_vec4.cpp
+++ b/src/mesa/drivers/dri/i965/brw_vec4.cpp
@@ -1520,7 +1520,7 @@ vec4_visitor::run()
 
    while (!reg_allocate()) {
       if (failed)
-         break;
+         return false;
    }
 
    opt_schedule_instructions();