diff --git a/daemon/logger/syslog/syslog.go b/daemon/logger/syslog/syslog.go
index e7054d257b..bbd2090900 100644
--- a/daemon/logger/syslog/syslog.go
+++ b/daemon/logger/syslog/syslog.go
@@ -36,10 +36,7 @@ func (s *Syslog) Log(msg *logger.Message) error {
 }
 
 func (s *Syslog) Close() error {
-	if s.writer != nil {
-		return s.writer.Close()
-	}
-	return nil
+	return s.writer.Close()
 }
 
 func (s *Syslog) Name() string {