diff --git a/error.go b/error.go
index 65982a51e..c74b30487 100644
--- a/error.go
+++ b/error.go
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@
 package zap
 
 import (
-	"sync"
-
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zapcore"
+	"reflect"
+	"sync"
 )
 
 var _errArrayElemPool = sync.Pool{New: func() interface{} {
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func Error(err error) Field {
 // For the common case in which the key is simply "error", the Error function
 // is shorter and less repetitive.
 func NamedError(key string, err error) Field {
-	if err == nil {
+	if err == nil || reflect.ValueOf(err).IsNil() {
 		return Skip()
 	}
 	return Field{Key: key, Type: zapcore.ErrorType, Interface: err}