diff --git a/tools/releasetools/common.py b/tools/releasetools/common.py
index ebebd6388e..faadae9706 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/common.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/common.py
@@ -1385,7 +1385,7 @@ class Difference(object):
           p.kill()
           th.join()
 
-      if err or p.returncode != 0:
+      if p.returncode != 0:
         print("WARNING: failure running %s:\n%s\n" % (
             diff_program, "".join(err)))
         self.patch = None