diff --git a/encoding/protojson/decode.go b/encoding/protojson/decode.go
index 737d6876d..936088314 100644
--- a/encoding/protojson/decode.go
+++ b/encoding/protojson/decode.go
@@ -559,8 +559,6 @@ func (d decoder) unmarshalList(list protoreflect.List, fd protoreflect.FieldDesc
 			}
 		}
 	}
-
-	return nil
 }
 
 func (d decoder) unmarshalMap(mmap protoreflect.Map, fd protoreflect.FieldDescriptor) error {