diff --git a/src/sysctl/sysctl.c b/src/sysctl/sysctl.c
index c2b5ca05c5..4490b9de0b 100644
--- a/src/sysctl/sysctl.c
+++ b/src/sysctl/sysctl.c
@@ -483,9 +483,7 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                 RET_GATHER(r, read_credential_lines(&sysctl_options));
         }
 
-        RET_GATHER(r, apply_all(sysctl_options));
-
-        return r;
+        return RET_GATHER(r, apply_all(sysctl_options));
 }
 
 DEFINE_MAIN_FUNCTION(run);