diff --git a/journalbeat/reader/journal.go b/journalbeat/reader/journal.go
index 9ee67cfc5384..756b2087ec2c 100644
--- a/journalbeat/reader/journal.go
+++ b/journalbeat/reader/journal.go
@@ -65,66 +65,54 @@ type Reader struct {
 	backoff *common.Backoff
 }
 
-// journalOpener is a function which tries to open the configured systemd journal.
-// If it is successful, a new logger instance is created also.
-type journalOpener func() (*sdjournal.Journal, *logp.Logger, error)
-
 // New creates a new journal reader and moves the FP to the configured position.
 func New(c Config, done chan struct{}, state checkpoint.JournalState, logger *logp.Logger) (*Reader, error) {
-	opener := func() (*sdjournal.Journal, *logp.Logger, error) {
-		f, err := os.Stat(c.Path)
+	f, err := os.Stat(c.Path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to open file")
+	}
+
+	var j *sdjournal.Journal
+	if f.IsDir() {
+		j, err = sdjournal.NewJournalFromDir(c.Path)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to open file")
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to open journal directory")
 		}
-
-		var j *sdjournal.Journal
-		if f.IsDir() {
-			j, err = sdjournal.NewJournalFromDir(c.Path)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to open journal directory")
-			}
-		} else {
-			j, err = sdjournal.NewJournalFromFiles(c.Path)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to open journal file")
-			}
+	} else {
+		j, err = sdjournal.NewJournalFromFiles(c.Path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to open journal file")
 		}
-		return j, logger.With("path", c.Path), nil
 	}
 
-	return newReader(opener, c, done, state, logger)
+	l := logger.With("path", c.Path)
+	l.Debug("New journal is opened for reading")
+
+	return newReader(l, done, c, j, state)
 }
 
 // NewLocal creates a reader to read form the local journal and moves the FP
 // to the configured position.
 func NewLocal(c Config, done chan struct{}, state checkpoint.JournalState, logger *logp.Logger) (*Reader, error) {
-	localOpener := func() (*sdjournal.Journal, *logp.Logger, error) {
-		j, err := sdjournal.NewJournal()
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to open local journal")
-		}
-
-		logger = logger.With("path", "local")
-		logger.Debug("New local journal is opened for reading")
-		return j, logger, nil
+	j, err := sdjournal.NewJournal()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to open local journal")
 	}
 
-	return newReader(localOpener, c, done, state, logger)
-}
+	l := logger.With("path", "local")
+	l.Debug("New local journal is opened for reading")
 
-func newReader(opener journalOpener, c Config, done chan struct{}, state checkpoint.JournalState, logger *logp.Logger) (*Reader, error) {
-	j, logger, err := opener()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
+	return newReader(l, done, c, j, state)
+}
 
-	err = setupMatches(j, c.Matches)
+func newReader(logger *logp.Logger, done chan struct{}, c Config, journal *sdjournal.Journal, state checkpoint.JournalState) (*Reader, error) {
+	err := setupMatches(journal, c.Matches)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	r := &Reader{
-		journal: j,
+		journal: journal,
 		config:  c,
 		done:    done,
 		logger:  logger,
@@ -132,7 +120,7 @@ func newReader(opener journalOpener, c Config, done chan struct{}, state checkpo
 	}
 	r.seek(state.Cursor)
 
-	instance.AddJournalToMonitor(c.Path, j)
+	instance.AddJournalToMonitor(c.Path, journal)
 
 	return r, nil
 }