diff --git a/src/build/targets.jam b/src/build/targets.jam
index a70532ce7..12e4a5edf 100644
--- a/src/build/targets.jam
+++ b/src/build/targets.jam
@@ -936,7 +936,7 @@ rule common-properties ( build-request requirements )
     {
         $(key) = [ common-properties2 $(build-request) $(non-free) ] ;
     }
-    result = [ $($(key)).add-raw $(free) ] ;
+    return [ $($(key)).add-raw $(free) ] ;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/tools/python.jam b/src/tools/python.jam
index 66f2aabec..6c2073b78 100644
--- a/src/tools/python.jam
+++ b/src/tools/python.jam
@@ -1178,7 +1178,7 @@ class python-test-generator : generator
 
         property-set = [ $(property-set).add-raw <dependency>$(other-pythons) ] ;
 
-        result = [ construct-result $(python) $(extensions) $(new-sources) :
+        return [ construct-result $(python) $(extensions) $(new-sources) :
             $(project) $(name) : $(property-set) ] ;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/tools/stage.jam b/src/tools/stage.jam
index 296e7558e..36427447b 100644
--- a/src/tools/stage.jam
+++ b/src/tools/stage.jam
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ class install-target-class : basic-target
             }
         }
         DELETE_MODULE $(result) ;
-        result = [ sequence.unique $(result2) ] ;
+        return [ sequence.unique $(result2) ] ;
     }
 
     # Returns true iff 'type' is subtype of some element of 'types-to-include'.