diff --git a/utilities/spatialdb/spatial_db.cc b/utilities/spatialdb/spatial_db.cc
index 4f75d48c9a..bf4a268fc5 100644
--- a/utilities/spatialdb/spatial_db.cc
+++ b/utilities/spatialdb/spatial_db.cc
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ bool Variant::operator==(const Variant& rhs) {
     default:
       assert(false);
   }
+  // it will never reach here, but otherwise the compiler complains
+  return false;
 }
 
 bool Variant::operator!=(const Variant& rhs) { return !(*this == rhs); }