diff --git a/lib/zlib.js b/lib/zlib.js
index 8ee2c143e5ae6f..7cc8e2e6275041 100644
--- a/lib/zlib.js
+++ b/lib/zlib.js
@@ -138,7 +138,6 @@ function zlibBufferOnError(err) {
 
 function zlibBufferOnEnd() {
   let buf;
-  let err;
   if (this.nread === 0) {
     buf = Buffer.alloc(0);
   } else {
@@ -146,9 +145,7 @@ function zlibBufferOnEnd() {
     buf = (bufs.length === 1 ? bufs[0] : Buffer.concat(bufs, this.nread));
   }
   this.close();
-  if (err)
-    this.cb(err);
-  else if (this._info)
+  if (this._info)
     this.cb(null, { buffer: buf, engine: this });
   else
     this.cb(null, buf);