diff --git a/pkg/ueps/reader.go b/pkg/ueps/reader.go
index 73b4bd3..52fb932 100644
--- a/pkg/ueps/reader.go
+++ b/pkg/ueps/reader.go
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ func ReadAndVerify(reader *bufio.Reader, sharedSecret []byte) (*ParsedPacket, er
 		}
 
 		if tagByte == TagPayload {
-			var err error
 			payload, err = io.ReadAll(reader)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err