diff --git a/shell/hush.c b/shell/hush.c
index d5ea3b21f..3a4b5d894 100644
--- a/shell/hush.c
+++ b/shell/hush.c
@@ -9393,6 +9393,13 @@ int hush_main(int argc, char **argv)
 # if ENABLE_HUSH_LOOPS
 			optarg++;
 			G.depth_of_loop = bb_strtou(optarg, &optarg, 16);
+# endif
+# if ENABLE_HUSH_FUNCTIONS
+			/* nommu uses re-exec trick for "... | func | ...",
+			 * should allow "return".
+			 * This accidentally allows returns in subshells.
+			 */
+			G_flag_return_in_progress = -1;
 # endif
 			break;
 		}