diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/returns.rs b/clippy_lints/src/returns.rs
index 1e7096496957..423b9b397f1f 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/returns.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/returns.rs
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ fn check_final_expr<'tcx>(
                     if matches!(Level::from_attr(attr), Some(Level::Expect(_)))
                         && let metas = attr.meta_item_list()
                         && let Some(lst) = metas
-                        && let [NestedMetaItem::MetaItem(meta_item)] = lst.as_slice()
+                        && let [NestedMetaItem::MetaItem(meta_item), ..] = lst.as_slice()
                         && let [tool, lint_name] = meta_item.path.segments.as_slice()
                         && tool.ident.name == sym::clippy
                         && matches!(
diff --git a/tests/ui/needless_return.fixed b/tests/ui/needless_return.fixed
index c5c570690b45..ca422e605d66 100644
--- a/tests/ui/needless_return.fixed
+++ b/tests/ui/needless_return.fixed
@@ -360,3 +360,23 @@ fn issue12907() -> String {
 }
 
 fn main() {}
+
+fn a(x: Option<u8>) -> Option<u8> {
+    match x {
+        Some(_) => None,
+        None => {
+            #[expect(clippy::needless_return, reason = "Use early return for errors.")]
+            return None;
+        },
+    }
+}
+
+fn b(x: Option<u8>) -> Option<u8> {
+    match x {
+        Some(_) => None,
+        None => {
+            #[expect(clippy::needless_return)]
+            return None;
+        },
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/ui/needless_return.rs b/tests/ui/needless_return.rs
index 738611391dfd..aad6e13136f1 100644
--- a/tests/ui/needless_return.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/needless_return.rs
@@ -370,3 +370,23 @@ fn issue12907() -> String {
 }
 
 fn main() {}
+
+fn a(x: Option<u8>) -> Option<u8> {
+    match x {
+        Some(_) => None,
+        None => {
+            #[expect(clippy::needless_return, reason = "Use early return for errors.")]
+            return None;
+        },
+    }
+}
+
+fn b(x: Option<u8>) -> Option<u8> {
+    match x {
+        Some(_) => None,
+        None => {
+            #[expect(clippy::needless_return)]
+            return None;
+        },
+    }
+}