diff --git a/src/Song.cpp b/src/Song.cpp
index 5bb35928f5..926ac196d1 100644
--- a/src/Song.cpp
+++ b/src/Song.cpp
@@ -1505,7 +1505,7 @@ public:
 	{
 		RString s = p->GetBackgroundPath();
 		if( s.empty() ) 
-			s = ""; 
+			return 0; 
 		lua_pushstring(L, s); 
 		return 1; 
 	}