diff --git a/tools/checklocks/analysis.go b/tools/checklocks/analysis.go
index e342ac8c6d..541def1c5c 100644
--- a/tools/checklocks/analysis.go
+++ b/tools/checklocks/analysis.go
@@ -731,17 +731,25 @@ func (pc *passContext) checkBasicBlock(fn *ssa.Function, block *ssa.BasicBlock,
 		rv, rls = pc.checkInstruction(inst, lff, ls)
 		if rls != nil {
 			failed := false
+
+			// if there is no line information attached to the return
+			// instruction, use the line info of the function itself
+			pos := rv.Pos()
+			if (pos == token.NoPos) {
+				pos = rv.Parent().Pos()
+			}
+
 			// Validate held locks.
 			for fieldName, fg := range lff.HeldOnExit {
 				r := fg.Resolver.resolveStatic(pc, ls, fn, rv)
 				if !r.valid() {
 					// This cannot be forced, since we have no reference.
-					pc.maybeFail(rv.Pos(), "lock %s cannot be resolved", fieldName)
+					pc.maybeFail(pos, "lock %s cannot be resolved", fieldName)
 					continue
 				}
 				if s, ok := rls.isHeld(r, fg.Exclusive); !ok {
 					if _, ok := pc.forced[pc.positionKey(rv.Pos())]; !ok && !lff.Ignore {
-						pc.maybeFail(rv.Pos(), "lock %s (%s) not held %s (locks: %s)", fieldName, s, exclusiveStr(fg.Exclusive), rls.String())
+						pc.maybeFail(pos, "lock %s (%s) not held %s (locks: %s)", fieldName, s, exclusiveStr(fg.Exclusive), rls.String())
 						failed = true
 					} else {
 						// Force the lock to be acquired.
@@ -751,7 +759,7 @@ func (pc *passContext) checkBasicBlock(fn *ssa.Function, block *ssa.BasicBlock,
 			}
 			// Check for other locks, but only if the above didn't trip.
 			if !failed && rls.count() != len(lff.HeldOnExit) && !lff.Ignore {
-				pc.maybeFail(rv.Pos(), "return with unexpected locks held (locks: %s)", rls.String())
+				pc.maybeFail(pos, "return with unexpected locks held (locks: %s)", rls.String())
 			}
 		}
 	}