diff --git a/cli-plugins/manager/error.go b/cli-plugins/manager/error.go
index 7091491511..aaedae14fa 100644
--- a/cli-plugins/manager/error.go
+++ b/cli-plugins/manager/error.go
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@ func (e *pluginError) MarshalText() (text []byte, err error) {
 // wrapAsPluginError wraps an error in a pluginError with an
 // additional message.
 func wrapAsPluginError(err error, msg string) error {
-	if err == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
 	return &pluginError{cause: fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", msg, err)}
 }
 
diff --git a/cli-plugins/manager/error_test.go b/cli-plugins/manager/error_test.go
index 682860daad..2e92001c20 100644
--- a/cli-plugins/manager/error_test.go
+++ b/cli-plugins/manager/error_test.go
@@ -21,4 +21,7 @@ func TestPluginError(t *testing.T) {
 	actual, err := json.Marshal(err)
 	assert.Check(t, err)
 	assert.Check(t, is.Equal(`"wrapping: testing"`, string(actual)))
+
+	err = wrapAsPluginError(nil, "wrapping")
+	assert.Check(t, is.Error(err, "wrapping: %!w(<nil>)"))
 }