diff --git a/src/utils/utils.go b/src/utils/utils.go
index 3ce3e5f..42a1520 100644
--- a/src/utils/utils.go
+++ b/src/utils/utils.go
@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@ func HashFile(fname string, algorithm string) (hash256 []byte, err error) {
 	if fstats.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 {
 		var target string
 		target, err = os.Readlink(fname)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		return []byte(SHA256(target)), nil
 	}
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
 	switch algorithm {
 	case "imohash":
 		return IMOHashFile(fname)