diff --git a/crates/noirc_frontend/src/parser/errors.rs b/crates/noirc_frontend/src/parser/errors.rs
index 7012c0fbda5..0295d6063d5 100644
--- a/crates/noirc_frontend/src/parser/errors.rs
+++ b/crates/noirc_frontend/src/parser/errors.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ pub enum ParserErrorReason {
     MissingSeparatingSemi,
     #[error("constrain keyword is deprecated")]
     ConstrainDeprecated,
+    #[error("early return unsupported")]
+    EarlyReturnUnsupported,
     #[error("Expression is invalid in an array-length type: '{0}'. Only unsigned integer constants, globals, generics, +, -, *, /, and % may be used in this context.")]
     InvalidArrayLengthExpression(Expression),
 }
@@ -96,6 +98,7 @@ impl From<ParserError> for Diagnostic {
                         "The 'constrain' keyword has been deprecated. Please use the 'assert' function instead.".into(),
                         error.span,
                     ),
+                    ParserErrorReason::EarlyReturnUnsupported =>Diagnostic::simple_error("early return unsupported".into(), "Noir doesn't support return statements. The return value of a function is instead inferred from the function body's final expression.".into(), error.span),
                     other => {
 
                         Diagnostic::simple_error(format!("{other}"), String::new(), error.span)
diff --git a/crates/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser.rs b/crates/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser.rs
index 4f7c73e609b..701d6a2f2f5 100644
--- a/crates/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser.rs
+++ b/crates/noirc_frontend/src/parser/parser.rs
@@ -438,6 +438,7 @@ where
         assertion(expr_parser.clone()),
         declaration(expr_parser.clone()),
         assignment(expr_parser.clone()),
+        early_return(expr_parser.clone()),
         expr_parser.map(Statement::Expression),
     ))
 }
@@ -463,6 +464,18 @@ where
         .map(|expr| Statement::Constrain(ConstrainStatement(expr)))
 }
 
+fn early_return<'a, P>(expr_parser: P) -> impl NoirParser<Statement> + 'a
+where
+    P: ExprParser + 'a,
+{
+    ignore_then_commit(keyword(Keyword::Return), expr_parser).labelled("statement").validate(
+        |_, span, emit| {
+            emit(ParserError::with_reason(ParserErrorReason::EarlyReturnUnsupported, span));
+            Statement::Error
+        },
+    )
+}
+
 fn declaration<'a, P>(expr_parser: P) -> impl NoirParser<Statement> + 'a
 where
     P: ExprParser + 'a,