diff --git a/gas/config/tc-a29k.c b/gas/config/tc-a29k.c
index 1ed07df0428..537f7955c60 100644
--- a/gas/config/tc-a29k.c
+++ b/gas/config/tc-a29k.c
@@ -403,7 +403,8 @@ parse_operand (s, operandp)
   char *new;
 
   input_line_pointer = s;
-  if (expression (operandp) == O_absent)
+  expression (operandp);
+  if (operandp->X_op == O_absent)
     as_bad ("missing operand");
   new = input_line_pointer;
   input_line_pointer = save;
diff --git a/gas/config/tc-h8500.c b/gas/config/tc-h8500.c
index 1cb1bcfa6d0..f58163f6351 100644
--- a/gas/config/tc-h8500.c
+++ b/gas/config/tc-h8500.c
@@ -286,7 +286,8 @@ parse_exp (s, op, page)
 
   input_line_pointer = s;
 
-  if (expression (op) == O_absent)
+  expression (op);
+  if (op->X_op == O_absent)
     as_bad ("missing operand");
   new = input_line_pointer;
   input_line_pointer = save;