The compiler won't, no - but many/most developers use static analysis tools like...

		troygoode on Jan 11, 2012 \| parent \| context \| favorite \| on: Don't return null; use a tail call The compiler won't, no - but many/most developers use static analysis tools like ReSharper which WILL tell you that you have a possible NullReferenceException there if you don't check it.