diff --git a/pkg/server/image_pull.go b/pkg/server/image_pull.go
index 4db105e06..67acddf0f 100644
--- a/pkg/server/image_pull.go
+++ b/pkg/server/image_pull.go
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ func (c *criService) createImageReference(ctx context.Context, name string, desc
 	if err == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	if err != nil && !errdefs.IsAlreadyExists(err) {
+	if !errdefs.IsAlreadyExists(err) {
 		return err
 	}
 	_, err = c.client.ImageService().Update(ctx, img, "target")