diff --git a/src/crypto/x509/x509.go b/src/crypto/x509/x509.go
index 47be77d994df96..fe60ce43f5a18b 100644
--- a/src/crypto/x509/x509.go
+++ b/src/crypto/x509/x509.go
@@ -1307,10 +1307,7 @@ func marshalBasicConstraints(isCA bool, maxPathLen int, maxPathLenZero bool) (pk
 	}
 	var err error
 	ext.Value, err = asn1.Marshal(basicConstraints{isCA, maxPathLen})
-	if err != nil {
-		return ext, nil
-	}
-	return ext, nil
+	return ext, err
 }
 
 func marshalCertificatePolicies(policyIdentifiers []asn1.ObjectIdentifier) (pkix.Extension, error) {