diff --git a/src/pkg/net/http/transport.go b/src/pkg/net/http/transport.go
index dc70be43f2..62d36d6986 100644
--- a/src/pkg/net/http/transport.go
+++ b/src/pkg/net/http/transport.go
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ func (pc *persistConn) readLoop() {
 				resp.Header.Del("Content-Length")
 				resp.ContentLength = -1
 				gzReader, zerr := gzip.NewReader(resp.Body)
-				if err != nil {
+				if zerr != nil {
 					pc.close()
 					err = zerr
 				} else {