diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
index 980b9d8c7..5c2730aa7 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
@@ -1320,12 +1320,12 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_get_securejoin_qr(
 ) -> *mut libc::c_char {
     if context.is_null() {
         eprintln!("ignoring careless call to dc_get_securejoin_qr()");
-        "".strdup()
+        return "".strdup();
     }
 
     let context = &*context;
     dc_securejoin::dc_get_securejoin_qr(context, chat_id)
-        .unwrap_or("")
+        .unwrap_or("".to_string())
         .strdup()
 }