diff --git a/src/thingdef/thingdef_exp.h b/src/thingdef/thingdef_exp.h
index d1f7e75da3..691d4b8723 100644
--- a/src/thingdef/thingdef_exp.h
+++ b/src/thingdef/thingdef_exp.h
@@ -892,6 +892,19 @@ public:
 	ExpEmit Emit(VMFunctionBuilder *build, bool tailcall);
 };
 
+//==========================================================================
+//
+// FxReturnStatement
+//
+//==========================================================================
+
+class FxReturnStatement : public FxTailable
+{
+public:
+	FxReturnStatement(const FScriptPosition &pos);
+	ExpEmit Emit(VMFunctionBuilder *build, bool tailcall);
+};
+
 //==========================================================================
 //
 //
diff --git a/src/thingdef/thingdef_expression.cpp b/src/thingdef/thingdef_expression.cpp
index 2a756a68cd..19c02837ca 100644
--- a/src/thingdef/thingdef_expression.cpp
+++ b/src/thingdef/thingdef_expression.cpp
@@ -3484,6 +3484,21 @@ ExpEmit FxIfStatement::Emit(VMFunctionBuilder *build, bool tailcall)
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
+FxReturnStatement::FxReturnStatement(const FScriptPosition &pos)
+: FxTailable(pos)
+{
+}
+
+ExpEmit FxReturnStatement::Emit(VMFunctionBuilder *build, bool tailcall)
+{
+	build->Emit(OP_RET, RET_FINAL, REGT_NIL, 0);
+	return ExpEmit();
+}
+
+//==========================================================================
+//
+//==========================================================================
+
 FxClassTypeCast::FxClassTypeCast(const PClass *dtype, FxExpression *x)
 : FxExpression(x->ScriptPosition)
 {
diff --git a/src/thingdef/thingdef_states.cpp b/src/thingdef/thingdef_states.cpp
index a44fa1ed15..d6f3eb9399 100644
--- a/src/thingdef/thingdef_states.cpp
+++ b/src/thingdef/thingdef_states.cpp
@@ -386,6 +386,12 @@ FxTailable *ParseActions(FScanner &sc, FState state, FString statestring, Baggag
 			}
 			add = new FxIfStatement(cond, true_part, false_part, sc);
 		}
+		else if (sc.Compare("return"))
+		{ // Handle a return statement
+			sc.MustGetStringName(";");
+			sc.MustGetString();
+			add = new FxReturnStatement(sc);
+		}
 		else
 		{ // Handle a regular action function call
 			add = ParseAction(sc, state, statestring, bag);