--- a/boost/optional/detail/union_optional.hpp
+++ b/boost/optional/detail/union_optional.hpp
@@ -597,7 +597,9 @@ namespace boost {
 
     constexpr reference_const_type value() const&
     {
-      return this->is_initialized() ? this->get() : (boost::throw_exception(boost::bad_optional_access()), this->get());
+      if (!this->is_initialized())
+        boost::throw_exception(boost::bad_optional_access());
+      return this->get();
     }
 
     BOOST_CXX14_CONSTEXPR reference_type value() &