diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index 4abc6e0203..339609cf4e 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -950,12 +950,11 @@ func makeDatabaseHandles() int {
 	if err != nil {
 		Fatalf("Failed to retrieve file descriptor allowance: %v", err)
 	}
-	if u64limit, err := fdlimit.Raise(uint64(limit)); err != nil {
+	raised, err := fdlimit.Raise(uint64(limit))
+	if err != nil {
 		Fatalf("Failed to raise file descriptor allowance: %v", err)
-		return 0 // Make the compiler happy
-	} else {
-		return int(u64limit / 2) // Leave half for networking and other stuff
 	}
+	return int(raised / 2) // Leave half for networking and other stuff
 }
 
 // MakeAddress converts an account specified directly as a hex encoded string or