diff --git a/bitshift/parser/python.py b/bitshift/parser/python.py
index 9d66537..a953303 100644
--- a/bitshift/parser/python.py
+++ b/bitshift/parser/python.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ def parse_py(codelet):
         tree = ast.parse("\n".join(strip_encoding(codelet.code.splitlines())))
     except SyntaxError:
         ## TODO: add some logging here?
-        return
+        return {}
 
     walker = _TreeWalker()
     walker.visit(tree)