diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/inc/MantidKernel/PropertyWithValue.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/inc/MantidKernel/PropertyWithValue.h
index 6804f0ffbe769ce0bc47c1c545980e277704890e..eae7488a4419a957ef29c437059d78d2fc0e36c2 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/inc/MantidKernel/PropertyWithValue.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/inc/MantidKernel/PropertyWithValue.h
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ public:
       g_log.debug() << "Could not set property " << name() << ": " << except.what();
       return except.what();
     }
+    return "";
   }
 
   ///Copy assignment operator assigns only the value and the validator not the name, default (initial) value, etc.