diff --git a/include/nlohmann/detail/exceptions.hpp b/include/nlohmann/detail/exceptions.hpp
index 5c9dce3c57..bd0534c438 100644
--- a/include/nlohmann/detail/exceptions.hpp
+++ b/include/nlohmann/detail/exceptions.hpp
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ class exception : public std::exception
 {
   public:
     /// returns the explanatory string
-    JSON_HEDLEY_RETURNS_NON_NULL
     const char* what() const noexcept override
     {
         return m.what();
diff --git a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
index a83971da21..d34b790056 100644
--- a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
+++ b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
@@ -2640,7 +2640,6 @@ class exception : public std::exception
 {
   public:
     /// returns the explanatory string
-    JSON_HEDLEY_RETURNS_NON_NULL
     const char* what() const noexcept override
     {
         return m.what();