diff --git a/lib/core/utils/flattened-tree.js b/lib/core/utils/flattened-tree.js
index 80f977e992..4fca4c67b2 100644
--- a/lib/core/utils/flattened-tree.js
+++ b/lib/core/utils/flattened-tree.js
@@ -142,15 +142,13 @@ axe.utils.getNodeFromTree = function(vNode, node) {
 		return vNode;
 	}
 	vNode.children.forEach(candidate => {
-		var retVal;
-
+		if (found) {
+			return;
+		}
 		if (candidate.actualNode === node) {
 			found = candidate;
 		} else {
-			retVal = axe.utils.getNodeFromTree(candidate, node);
-			if (retVal) {
-				found = retVal;
-			}
+			found = axe.utils.getNodeFromTree(candidate, node);
 		}
 	});
 	return found;