diff --git a/lib/compress.js b/lib/compress.js
index 9c7a6a9a..3bf54da0 100644
--- a/lib/compress.js
+++ b/lib/compress.js
@@ -686,8 +686,6 @@ merge(Compressor.prototype, {
             }
         } while (CHANGED && max_iter-- > 0);
 
-        return statements;
-
         // Search from right to left for assignment-like expressions:
         // - `var a = x;`
         // - `a = x;`
@@ -984,8 +982,7 @@ merge(Compressor.prototype, {
                         CHANGED = true;
                         stat = stat.clone();
                         stat.alternative = next;
-                        statements[i] = stat.transform(compressor);
-                        statements.length = i + 1;
+                        statements.splice(i, 2, stat.transform(compressor));
                         continue;
                     }
                     //---
@@ -997,8 +994,7 @@ merge(Compressor.prototype, {
                         stat.alternative = next || make_node(AST_Return, stat, {
                             value: null
                         });
-                        statements[i] = stat.transform(compressor);
-                        statements.length = i + 1;
+                        statements.splice(i, next ? 2 : 1, stat.transform(compressor));
                         continue;
                     }
                     //---
@@ -1982,12 +1978,12 @@ merge(Compressor.prototype, {
     });
 
     OPT(AST_Block, function(self, compressor){
-        self.body = tighten_body(self.body, compressor);
+        tighten_body(self.body, compressor);
         return self;
     });
 
     OPT(AST_BlockStatement, function(self, compressor){
-        self.body = tighten_body(self.body, compressor);
+        tighten_body(self.body, compressor);
         switch (self.body.length) {
           case 1: return self.body[0];
           case 0: return make_node(AST_EmptyStatement, self);
@@ -2894,7 +2890,7 @@ merge(Compressor.prototype, {
     });
 
     OPT(AST_Try, function(self, compressor){
-        self.body = tighten_body(self.body, compressor);
+        tighten_body(self.body, compressor);
         if (self.bcatch && self.bfinally && all(self.bfinally.body, is_empty)) self.bfinally = null;
         if (all(self.body, is_empty)) {
             var body = [];