diff --git a/util/jsonutil/merge.go b/util/jsonutil/merge.go
index e1d69cf1334..7900f78a4ff 100644
--- a/util/jsonutil/merge.go
+++ b/util/jsonutil/merge.go
@@ -30,12 +30,12 @@ func init() {
 // Fields of type json.RawMessage are merged rather than replaced.
 func MergeClone(v any, data json.RawMessage) error {
 	err := jsonConfigMergeClone.Unmarshal(data, v)
-	if err != nil {
-		return &errortypes.FailedToUnmarshal{
-			Message: tryExtractErrorMessage(err),
-		}
+	if err == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &errortypes.FailedToUnmarshal{
+		Message: tryExtractErrorMessage(err),
 	}
-	return err
 }
 
 type mergeCloneExtension struct {