diff --git a/scripts/qapi-commands.py b/scripts/qapi-commands.py
index 43a893b4eb..561e47a42b 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi-commands.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi-commands.py
@@ -175,7 +175,9 @@ def gen_marshal(name, arg_type, ret_type):
     ret += gen_marshal_input_visit(arg_type)
     ret += gen_call(name, arg_type, ret_type)
 
-    if re.search('^ *goto out;', ret, re.MULTILINE):
+    # 'goto out' produced by gen_marshal_input_visit->gen_visit_fields()
+    # for each arg_type member, and by gen_call() for ret_type
+    if (arg_type and arg_type.members) or ret_type:
         ret += mcgen('''
 
 out:
diff --git a/scripts/qapi-visit.py b/scripts/qapi-visit.py
index d0759d739a..2dc3aed220 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi-visit.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi-visit.py
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ static void visit_type_%(c_name)s_fields(Visitor *v, %(c_name)s **obj, Error **e
 
     ret += gen_visit_fields(members, prefix='(*obj)->')
 
-    if re.search('^ *goto out;', ret, re.MULTILINE):
+    # 'goto out' produced for base, and by gen_visit_fields() for each member
+    if base or members:
         ret += mcgen('''
 
 out: