diff --git a/virtcontainers/api.go b/virtcontainers/api.go
index 76c2a96190..cfdc861b30 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/api.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/api.go
@@ -65,12 +65,10 @@ func CreateSandbox(ctx context.Context, sandboxConfig SandboxConfig, factory Fac
 	return s, err
 }
 
-func createSandboxFromConfig(ctx context.Context, sandboxConfig SandboxConfig, factory Factory) (*Sandbox, error) {
+func createSandboxFromConfig(ctx context.Context, sandboxConfig SandboxConfig, factory Factory) (_ *Sandbox, err error) {
 	span, ctx := trace(ctx, "createSandboxFromConfig")
 	defer span.Finish()
 
-	var err error
-
 	// Create the sandbox.
 	s, err := createSandbox(ctx, sandboxConfig, factory)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -91,7 +89,7 @@ func createSandboxFromConfig(ctx context.Context, sandboxConfig SandboxConfig, f
 
 	// network rollback
 	defer func() {
-		if err != nil && s.networkNS.NetNsCreated {
+		if err != nil {
 			s.removeNetwork()
 		}
 	}()