diff --git a/p2p/conn/secret_connection.go b/p2p/conn/secret_connection.go
index 78b128ae7..ff0698f6b 100644
--- a/p2p/conn/secret_connection.go
+++ b/p2p/conn/secret_connection.go
@@ -389,11 +389,7 @@ func sort32(foo, bar *[32]byte) (lo, hi *[32]byte) {
 }
 
 func signChallenge(challenge *[32]byte, locPrivKey crypto.PrivKey) ([]byte, error) {
-	signature, err := locPrivKey.Sign(challenge[:])
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return signature, nil
+	return locPrivKey.Sign(challenge[:])
 }
 
 type authSigMessage struct {