diff --git a/cmd/kubeadm/app/phases/certs/certlist_test.go b/cmd/kubeadm/app/phases/certs/certlist_test.go
index 4c223224e3c..556d205b5f1 100644
--- a/cmd/kubeadm/app/phases/certs/certlist_test.go
+++ b/cmd/kubeadm/app/phases/certs/certlist_test.go
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func TestCreateCertificateChain(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error getting tree: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if certTree.CreateTree(ic); err != nil {
+	if err := certTree.CreateTree(ic); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}