diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_func.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_func.vim
index 80d564e..8cb6ecf 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_func.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_func.vim
@@ -1468,6 +1468,29 @@
   CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E1012:')
 enddef
 
+def Test_failure_in_called_function()
+  # this was using the frame index as the return value
+  var lines =<< trim END
+      vim9script
+      au TerminalWinOpen * eval [][0]
+      def PopupTerm(a: any)
+        # make sure typvals on stack are string
+        ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g']->join()
+        FireEvent()
+      enddef
+      def FireEvent()
+          do TerminalWinOpen
+      enddef
+      # use try/catch to make eval fail
+      try
+          call PopupTerm(0)
+      catch
+      endtry
+      au! TerminalWinOpen
+  END
+  CheckScriptSuccess(lines)
+enddef
+
 def Test_nested_lambda()
   var lines =<< trim END
     vim9script
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 216f5c9..4c54fe5 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -751,6 +751,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    2051,
+/**/
     2050,
 /**/
     2049,
diff --git a/src/vim9execute.c b/src/vim9execute.c
index 323f292..ab2cf38 100644
--- a/src/vim9execute.c
+++ b/src/vim9execute.c
@@ -467,6 +467,7 @@
 func_return(ectx_T *ectx)
 {
     int		idx;
+    int		ret_idx;
     dfunc_T	*dfunc = ((dfunc_T *)def_functions.ga_data)
 							  + ectx->ec_dfunc_idx;
     int		argcount = ufunc_argcount(dfunc->df_ufunc);
@@ -490,6 +491,12 @@
 					idx < ectx->ec_stack.ga_len - 1; ++idx)
 	clear_tv(STACK_TV(idx));
 
+    // The return value should be on top of the stack.  However, when aborting
+    // it may not be there and ec_frame_idx is the top of the stack.
+    ret_idx = ectx->ec_stack.ga_len - 1;
+    if (ret_idx == ectx->ec_frame_idx + 4)
+	ret_idx = 0;
+
     // Restore the previous frame.
     ectx->ec_dfunc_idx = STACK_TV(ectx->ec_frame_idx)->vval.v_number;
     ectx->ec_iidx = STACK_TV(ectx->ec_frame_idx + 1)->vval.v_number;
@@ -501,11 +508,16 @@
     dfunc = ((dfunc_T *)def_functions.ga_data) + ectx->ec_dfunc_idx;
     ectx->ec_instr = dfunc->df_instr;
 
-    // Reset the stack to the position before the call, move the return value
-    // to the top of the stack.
-    idx = ectx->ec_stack.ga_len - 1;
-    ectx->ec_stack.ga_len = top + 1;
-    *STACK_TV_BOT(-1) = *STACK_TV(idx);
+    if (ret_idx > 0)
+    {
+	// Reset the stack to the position before the call, with a spot for the
+	// return value, moved there from above the frame.
+	ectx->ec_stack.ga_len = top + 1;
+	*STACK_TV_BOT(-1) = *STACK_TV(ret_idx);
+    }
+    else
+	// Reset the stack to the position before the call.
+	ectx->ec_stack.ga_len = top;
 
     funcdepth_decrement();
     return OK;