diff --git a/compiler/cpp/src/thrift/generate/t_rb_generator.cc b/compiler/cpp/src/thrift/generate/t_rb_generator.cc
index 4e7920db42..1561d60a53 100644
--- a/compiler/cpp/src/thrift/generate/t_rb_generator.cc
+++ b/compiler/cpp/src/thrift/generate/t_rb_generator.cc
@@ -1055,16 +1055,21 @@ void t_rb_generator::generate_service_client(t_service* tservice) {
       f_service_.indent() << "validate_message_begin(fname, mtype, rseqid, \"" << funname << "\")"
                           << '\n';
 
-      f_service_.indent() << "result = receive_message(" << resultname << ")" << '\n';
+      t_struct* xs = (*f_iter)->get_xceptions();
+      const std::vector<t_field*>& xceptions = xs->get_members();
+      vector<t_field*>::const_iterator x_iter;
+
+      f_service_.indent();
+      if (!(*f_iter)->get_returntype()->is_void() || !xceptions.empty()) {
+        f_service_ << "result = ";
+      }
+      f_service_ << "receive_message(" << resultname << ")" << '\n';
 
       // Careful, only return _result if not a void function
       if (!(*f_iter)->get_returntype()->is_void()) {
         f_service_.indent() << "return result.success unless result.success.nil?" << '\n';
       }
 
-      t_struct* xs = (*f_iter)->get_xceptions();
-      const std::vector<t_field*>& xceptions = xs->get_members();
-      vector<t_field*>::const_iterator x_iter;
       for (x_iter = xceptions.begin(); x_iter != xceptions.end(); ++x_iter) {
         f_service_.indent() << "raise result." << (*x_iter)->get_name() << " unless result."
                             << (*x_iter)->get_name() << ".nil?" << '\n';
@@ -1148,7 +1153,14 @@ void t_rb_generator::generate_process_function(t_service* tservice, t_function*
   string argsname = capitalize(tfunction->get_name()) + "_args";
   string resultname = capitalize(tfunction->get_name()) + "_result";
 
-  f_service_.indent() << "args = read_args(iprot, " << argsname << ")" << '\n';
+  t_struct* arg_struct = tfunction->get_arglist();
+  const std::vector<t_field*>& fields = arg_struct->get_members();
+
+  f_service_.indent();
+  if (!fields.empty()) {
+    f_service_ << "args = ";
+  }
+  f_service_ << "read_args(iprot, " << argsname << ")" << '\n';
 
   t_struct* xs = tfunction->get_xceptions();
   const std::vector<t_field*>& xceptions = xs->get_members();
@@ -1166,8 +1178,6 @@ void t_rb_generator::generate_process_function(t_service* tservice, t_function*
   }
 
   // Generate the function call
-  t_struct* arg_struct = tfunction->get_arglist();
-  const std::vector<t_field*>& fields = arg_struct->get_members();
   vector<t_field*>::const_iterator f_iter;
 
   f_service_.indent();
diff --git a/compiler/cpp/tests/rb/t_rb_generator_functional_tests.cc b/compiler/cpp/tests/rb/t_rb_generator_functional_tests.cc
index 9675702ebf..49dd06f564 100644
--- a/compiler/cpp/tests/rb/t_rb_generator_functional_tests.cc
+++ b/compiler/cpp/tests/rb/t_rb_generator_functional_tests.cc
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ TEST_CASE("t_rb_generator formats service classes and positional arguments", "[f
         "service PingService {\n"
         "  oneway void ping(1: i32 n)\n"
         "  i32 pong()\n"
+        "  void noop()\n"
         "}\n";
 
     {
@@ -134,6 +135,17 @@ TEST_CASE("t_rb_generator formats service classes and positional arguments", "[f
     REQUIRE(service.find("send_oneway_message(\"ping\", Ping_args, {n: n})") != string::npos);
     REQUIRE(service.find("def pong()\n      send_pong()\n      recv_pong()\n    end")
             != string::npos);
+    REQUIRE(service.find("def recv_noop()\n"
+                         "      fname, mtype, rseqid = receive_message_begin()\n"
+                         "      validate_message_begin(fname, mtype, rseqid, \"noop\")\n"
+                         "      receive_message(Noop_result)\n"
+                         "      nil\n"
+                         "    end")
+            != string::npos);
+    REQUIRE(service.find("def process_pong(seqid, iprot, oprot)\n"
+                         "      read_args(iprot, Pong_args)\n"
+                         "      result = Pong_result.new()")
+            != string::npos);
     REQUIRE(service.find(expected_empty_result) != string::npos);
     REQUIRE(service.find("\n\n  end\n") == string::npos);
 
diff --git a/lib/rb/.rubocop.yml b/lib/rb/.rubocop.yml
index f9cab6dbb8..e650663061 100644
--- a/lib/rb/.rubocop.yml
+++ b/lib/rb/.rubocop.yml
@@ -239,6 +239,9 @@ Lint/RedundantStringCoercion:
 Lint/UnreachableCode:
   Enabled: true
 
+Lint/UselessAssignment:
+  Enabled: true
+
 Performance/BindCall:
   Enabled: true
 
diff --git a/lib/rb/benchmark/benchmark.rb b/lib/rb/benchmark/benchmark.rb
index 98feb5c7ed..ac2be01fd6 100644
--- a/lib/rb/benchmark/benchmark.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/benchmark/benchmark.rb
@@ -183,9 +183,9 @@ def analyze_output
       end
     end
     @report = {}
-    @report[:total_calls] = call_times.inject(0.0) { |a, t| a += t }
+    @report[:total_calls] = call_times.inject(0.0) { |a, t| a + t }
     @report[:avg_calls] = @report[:total_calls] / call_times.size
-    @report[:total_clients] = client_times.inject(0.0) { |a, t| a += t }
+    @report[:total_clients] = client_times.inject(0.0) { |a, t| a + t }
     @report[:avg_clients] = @report[:total_clients] / client_times.size
     @report[:connection_failures] = connection_failures.size
     @report[:connection_errors] = connection_errors.size
@@ -209,7 +209,6 @@ def report_output
              ["Clients per process", @clients_per_process],
              ["Calls per client", @calls_per_client]
     puts
-    failures = (@report[:connection_failures] > 0)
     tabulate fmt,
              [["Connection failures", "%d", [:red, :bold]], @report[:connection_failures]],
              [["Connection errors", "%d", [:red, :bold]], @report[:connection_errors]],
diff --git a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/exceptions.rb b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/exceptions.rb
index 2c4f4f925a..2a487495e1 100644
--- a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/exceptions.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/exceptions.rb
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def read(iprot, remaining_depth = DEFAULT_RECURSION_DEPTH)
       raise ProtocolException.new(ProtocolException::DEPTH_LIMIT, "Maximum recursion depth exceeded") if remaining_depth <= 0
       iprot.read_struct_begin
       while true
-        fname, ftype, fid = iprot.read_field_begin
+        _, ftype, fid = iprot.read_field_begin
         if ftype == Types::STOP
           break
         end
diff --git a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/protocol/base_protocol.rb b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/protocol/base_protocol.rb
index bd329cda26..e84f153ee0 100644
--- a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/protocol/base_protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/protocol/base_protocol.rb
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ def skip(type, max_depth = 64)
       when Types::STRUCT
         read_struct_begin
         while true
-          name, type, id = read_field_begin
+          _, type, _ = read_field_begin
           break if type == Types::STOP
           skip(type, max_depth - 1)
           read_field_end
diff --git a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/server/nonblocking_server.rb b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/server/nonblocking_server.rb
index 7e90df43ef..25351b8e0d 100644
--- a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/server/nonblocking_server.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/server/nonblocking_server.rb
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def serve
           @logger.debug "Accepted socket: #{socket.inspect}"
           @io_manager.add_connection socket
         end
-      rescue IOError => e
+      rescue IOError
       end
       # we must be shutting down
       @logger.info "#{self} is shutting down, goodbye"
diff --git a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/server/thread_pool_server.rb b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/server/thread_pool_server.rb
index 881b334d4f..83b9f97bbc 100644
--- a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/server/thread_pool_server.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/server/thread_pool_server.rb
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def serve
                 loop do
                   @processor.process(prot, prot)
                 end
-              rescue Thrift::TransportException, Thrift::ProtocolException => e
+              rescue Thrift::TransportException, Thrift::ProtocolException
               ensure
                 trans.close
               end
diff --git a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/struct.rb b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/struct.rb
index 718471e52f..45cfb2ffa5 100644
--- a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/struct.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/struct.rb
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def read(iprot, remaining_depth = DEFAULT_RECURSION_DEPTH)
 
       iprot.read_struct_begin
       loop do
-        fname, ftype, fid = iprot.read_field_begin
+        _, ftype, fid = iprot.read_field_begin
         break if (ftype == Types::STOP)
         handle_message(iprot, fid, ftype, remaining_depth)
         iprot.read_field_end
diff --git a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/union.rb b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/union.rb
index f0e47e3f24..d186f632ad 100644
--- a/lib/rb/lib/thrift/union.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/lib/thrift/union.rb
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ def read(iprot, remaining_depth = DEFAULT_RECURSION_DEPTH)
       @value = nil
 
       iprot.read_struct_begin
-      fname, ftype, fid = iprot.read_field_begin
+      _, ftype, fid = iprot.read_field_begin
       handle_message(iprot, fid, ftype, remaining_depth)
       iprot.read_field_end
 
-      fname, ftype, fid = iprot.read_field_begin
+      _, ftype, _ = iprot.read_field_begin
       unless (ftype == Types::STOP)
         raise ProtocolException.new(ProtocolException::INVALID_DATA, "Too many fields for union")
       end
diff --git a/lib/rb/spec/compact_protocol_spec.rb b/lib/rb/spec/compact_protocol_spec.rb
index 3d71989562..42ca215198 100644
--- a/lib/rb/spec/compact_protocol_spec.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/spec/compact_protocol_spec.rb
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
         proto.write_field_end
 
         proto = Thrift::CompactProtocol.new(trans)
-        name, type, id = proto.read_field_begin
+        _, type, id = proto.read_field_begin
         expect(type).to eq(thrift_type)
         expect(id).to eq(15)
         read_back = proto.send(reader(primitive_type))
diff --git a/lib/rb/spec/header_protocol_spec.rb b/lib/rb/spec/header_protocol_spec.rb
index ab580f5ec5..ede18c9339 100644
--- a/lib/rb/spec/header_protocol_spec.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/spec/header_protocol_spec.rb
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
 
         read_protocol.read_message_begin
         read_protocol.read_struct_begin
-        name, type, id = read_protocol.read_field_begin
+        _, type, id = read_protocol.read_field_begin
         expect(type).to eq(Thrift::Types::I32)
         expect(id).to eq(1)
         value = read_protocol.read_i32
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@
         read_buffer = Thrift::MemoryBufferTransport.new(data)
         read_protocol = Thrift::HeaderProtocol.new(read_buffer)
 
-        name, type, seqid = read_protocol.read_message_begin
+        name, _, seqid = read_protocol.read_message_begin
         expect(name).to eq("compressed_test")
         expect(seqid).to eq(42)
 
diff --git a/lib/rb/spec/uuid_validation_spec.rb b/lib/rb/spec/uuid_validation_spec.rb
index 1c7ee8cedc..13696d3c89 100644
--- a/lib/rb/spec/uuid_validation_spec.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/spec/uuid_validation_spec.rb
@@ -185,17 +185,17 @@ def expect_invalid_uuid(value, message)
           @prot.write_struct_end
 
           @prot.read_struct_begin
-          name, type, id = @prot.read_field_begin
+          _, type, _ = @prot.read_field_begin
           expect(type).to eq(Thrift::Types::UUID)
           expect(@prot.read_uuid).to eq("550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000")
           @prot.read_field_end
 
-          name, type, id = @prot.read_field_begin
+          _, type, _ = @prot.read_field_begin
           expect(type).to eq(Thrift::Types::UUID)
           expect(@prot.read_uuid).to eq("6ba7b810-9dad-11d1-80b4-00c04fd430c8")
           @prot.read_field_end
 
-          name, type, id = @prot.read_field_begin
+          _, type, _ = @prot.read_field_begin
           expect(type).to eq(Thrift::Types::STOP)
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/rb/thrift.gemspec b/lib/rb/thrift.gemspec
index 3a40d88cdf..5e7d2e1cb2 100644
--- a/lib/rb/thrift.gemspec
+++ b/lib/rb/thrift.gemspec
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
 
   s.rdoc_options = %w[--line-numbers --inline-source --title Thrift --main README]
 
-  dir = File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__))
-
   s.files = Dir.glob("{lib,ext}/**/*.{c,h,rb}")
   s.executables = Dir.glob("{bin}/**/*")
 
diff --git a/test/rb/integration/TestClient.rb b/test/rb/integration/TestClient.rb
index 5e5203c3a1..169481cea7 100755
--- a/test/rb/integration/TestClient.rb
+++ b/test/rb/integration/TestClient.rb
@@ -158,14 +158,14 @@ def test_void
 
   def test_string
     p "test_string"
-    test_string =
+    escaped_string =
       'quote: \" backslash:' +
       ' forwardslash-escaped: \/ ' +
       ' backspace: \b formfeed: \f newline: \n return: \r tab: ' +
       ' now-all-of-them-together: "\\\/\b\n\r\t' +
       ' now-a-bunch-of-junk: !@#$%&()(&%$#{}{}<><><' +
       ' char-to-test-json-parsing: ]] \"]] \\" }}}{ [[[ '
-    test_string = "Afrikaans, Alemannisch, Aragonés, العربية, مصرى, " +
+    unicode_string = "Afrikaans, Alemannisch, Aragonés, العربية, مصرى, " +
       "Asturianu, Aymar aru, Azərbaycan, Башҡорт, Boarisch, Žemaitėška, " +
       "Беларуская, Беларуская (тарашкевіца), Български, Bamanankan, " +
       "বাংলা, Brezhoneg, Bosanski, Català, Mìng-dĕ̤ng-ngṳ̄, Нохчийн, " +
@@ -191,8 +191,10 @@ def test_string
       "Walon, Winaray, 吴语, isiXhosa, ייִדיש, Yorùbá, Zeêuws, 中文, " +
       "Bân-lâm-gú, 粵語"
 
-    result_string = @client.testString(test_string)
-    assert_equal(test_string, result_string.force_encoding(Encoding::UTF_8))
+    [escaped_string, unicode_string].each do |test_string|
+      result_string = @client.testString(test_string)
+      assert_equal(test_string, result_string.force_encoding(Encoding::UTF_8))
+    end
   end
 
   def test_multiplexed
diff --git a/tutorial/rb/RubyClient.rb b/tutorial/rb/RubyClient.rb
index bbe6abecf8..891e3b0eb8 100755
--- a/tutorial/rb/RubyClient.rb
+++ b/tutorial/rb/RubyClient.rb
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
     work.op = Operation::DIVIDE
     work.num1 = 1
     work.num2 = 0
-    quot = client.calculate(1, work)
+    client.calculate(1, work)
     puts "Whoa, we can divide by 0 now?"
   rescue InvalidOperation => io
     print "InvalidOperation: ", io.why, "\n"