diff --git a/aider/coders/editblock_coder.py b/aider/coders/editblock_coder.py
index 471a0c37c..32020f30f 100644
--- a/aider/coders/editblock_coder.py
+++ b/aider/coders/editblock_coder.py
@@ -418,8 +418,7 @@ def strip_filename(filename, fence):
             return candidate
 
     if filename.startswith(triple_backticks):
-        candidate = # ai!
-        return
+        filename = filename[len(triple_backticks):]
 
     filename = filename.rstrip(":")
     filename = filename.lstrip("#")