diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/syntax/parser.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/syntax/parser.go
index 92eae0a458..e45ca05fd1 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/syntax/parser.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/syntax/parser.go
@@ -1634,6 +1634,8 @@ func (p *parser) stmtBody(context string) []Stmt {
 	return body
 }
 
+var dummyCond = &Name{Value: "false"}
+
 func (p *parser) header(forStmt bool) (init SimpleStmt, cond Expr, post SimpleStmt) {
 	if p.tok == _Lbrace {
 		return
@@ -1680,12 +1682,8 @@ func (p *parser) header(forStmt bool) (init SimpleStmt, cond Expr, post SimpleSt
 	case *ExprStmt:
 		cond = s.X
 	default:
-		// Not obviously a syntax error but by making it one, we get
-		// automatic filtering of multiple syntax error messages per
-		// line in the compiler. This avoids the follow-up error
-		// "missing condition in if statement" for an if statement
-		// (minimal fix for #18915).
 		p.syntax_error(fmt.Sprintf("%s used as value", String(s)))
+		cond = dummyCond // avoid follow-up error for if statements
 	}
 
 	p.xnest = outer