diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/primitiveEntry/primitiveEntry.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/primitiveEntry/primitiveEntry.C
index 0b3ceb567418f12e6405fef03dd6edb4da7c765a..5012f6e0e2f0d48ac6ce984f8acc1ba70f298d3d 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/primitiveEntry/primitiveEntry.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/primitiveEntry/primitiveEntry.C
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ Foam::label Foam::primitiveEntry::startLineNumber() const
 
     if (tokens.size())
     {
-        tokens.first().lineNumber();
+        return tokens.first().lineNumber();
     }
 
     return -1;