diff --git a/transform/chain.go b/transform/chain.go
index fbcf0eff2..1e550d341 100644
--- a/transform/chain.go
+++ b/transform/chain.go
@@ -74,10 +74,8 @@ func (c *chain) Apply(w io.Writer, r io.Reader, p []byte) error {
 	}
 
 	if len(*c) == 0 {
-		if _, err := b1.WriteTo(w); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		return nil
+		_, err := b1.WriteTo(w)
+		return err
 	}
 
 	b2 := bp.GetBuffer()