Void Value Expression in Ruby

Here's a commonplace scenario for almost anyone:

variable = nil  
if other_var == 1 variable = 2 
  elsif other_var == 2 variable = 3 
end

Simple right? Ruby however allows you to short this a bit  (with arguable readability):

variable = if other_var == 1
             variable = 2
           elsif other_var == 2 
             variable = 3
           end

This works because Ruby always returns something from evaluated blocks, even "if"'s. Now, what if you needed a return out of the function during that if?

variable = nil
if other_var == 1
 variable = 2
elsif other_var == 2
 variable = 3
else
  return "Let's get out this way, it's quicker!"
end

One would think he could do this:

 
variable = if other_var == 1
            variable = 2
           elsif other_var == 2 
            variable = 3
           else
            return "Let's get out this way, it's quicker!"
           end

2.0.0-p247 :037 > variable = if other_var == 1 
2.0.0-p247 :038?> variable = 2 
2.0.0-p247 :039?> elsif other_var == 2
 2.0.0-p247 :040?> variable = 3 
2.0.0-p247 :041?> else 
2.0.0-p247 :042 > return "Let's get out this way, it's quicker!" 
2.0.0-p247 :043?> end SyntaxError: (irb):43: void value expression

Nope! When I first saw this error it kinda reminded me of a similar error Perl would return when you forgot to add 1; to the end of your file, so I tried:

2.0.0-p247 :047 > variable = if other_var == 1 
2.0.0-p247 :048?> variable = 2
2.0.0-p247 :049?> elsif other_var == 2 
2.0.0-p247 :050?> variable = 3
 2.0.0-p247 :051?> else 
2.0.0-p247 :052 > return "Let's get out this way, it's quicker!"; 1; 
2.0.0-p247 :053 > end 
 => 2 
2.0.0-p247 :054 >

I think this might be a problem with the compiler.