diff --git a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/util/explicitReturnTypeUtils.ts b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/util/explicitReturnTypeUtils.ts
index 2e26f69b1cab..320d4798e8f0 100644
--- a/packages/eslint-plugin/src/util/explicitReturnTypeUtils.ts
+++ b/packages/eslint-plugin/src/util/explicitReturnTypeUtils.ts
@@ -370,6 +370,10 @@ function ancestorHasReturnType(
   // by an ancestor check.
   const isParentCheck = true;
 
+  if (ancestor?.type !== AST_NODE_TYPES.ReturnStatement) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
   // Has a valid type been found in any of the ancestors.
   let hasType = false;