diff --git a/lib/Parser.js b/lib/Parser.js
index a5b444eeb8f..3df20ce7a72 100644
--- a/lib/Parser.js
+++ b/lib/Parser.js
@@ -2238,6 +2238,8 @@ class Parser extends Tapable {
 
 		if (type === "auto") {
 			parserOptions.sourceType = "module";
+		} else if (parserOptions.sourceType === "script") {
+			parserOptions.allowReturnOutsideFunction = true;
 		}
 
 		let ast;
@@ -2252,6 +2254,7 @@ class Parser extends Tapable {
 
 		if (threw && type === "auto") {
 			parserOptions.sourceType = "script";
+			parserOptions.allowReturnOutsideFunction = true;
 			if (Array.isArray(parserOptions.onComment)) {
 				parserOptions.onComment.length = 0;
 			}
diff --git a/test/fixtures/b.js b/test/fixtures/b.js
index 0900b0b4558..7e6505aa822 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/b.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/b.js
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 module.exports = function b() {
 	return "This is b";
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};
+
+// Test CJS top-level return
+return;