diff --git a/json.lua b/json.lua
index 6ca0d06..746b358 100644
--- a/json.lua
+++ b/json.lua
@@ -349,9 +349,8 @@ parse = function(str, idx)
   local f = char_func_map[chr]
   if f then
     return f(str, idx, chr)
-  else
-    decode_error(str, idx, "unexpected character '" .. chr .. "'")
   end
+  decode_error(str, idx, "unexpected character '" .. chr .. "'")
 end