diff --git a/plugin/dnstap/dnstapio/io.go b/plugin/dnstap/dnstapio/io.go
index d2f54679b..9390568f9 100644
--- a/plugin/dnstap/dnstapio/io.go
+++ b/plugin/dnstap/dnstapio/io.go
@@ -62,10 +62,7 @@ func (dio *dnstapIO) newConnect() error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err = dio.enc.resetWriter(dio.conn); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
+	return dio.enc.resetWriter(dio.conn)
 }
 
 // Connect connects to the dnstop endpoint.