diff --git a/src/core/surface/call.c b/src/core/surface/call.c
index 49a0c7e04ed..4affafa5850 100644
--- a/src/core/surface/call.c
+++ b/src/core/surface/call.c
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ static batch_control *allocate_batch_control(grpc_call *call) {
       return &call->active_batches[i];
     }
   }
-  GPR_UNREACHABLE_CODE(return NULL);
+  return NULL;
 }
 
 static void finish_batch_completion(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *user_data,