---
title: "nil-value-with-nil-error"
description: "Detect nil payloads returned together with a nil error."
image: "https://strider.gempir.com/og.png"
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://strider.gempir.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# nil-value-with-nil-error

**Default severity:** `warning`

For functions returning a nilable payload and a final error, an explicit
`nil, nil` result makes absence indistinguishable from successful production of
a value. Documented APIs that intentionally use this contract can exclude it.

This is an API policy, not a claim that `nil, nil` is invalid Go. Exclude the
check for optional-lookup APIs that deliberately use this convention.

## Bad

```go
if value == nil {
	return nil, nil
}
return value, nil
```

## Good

```go
if value == nil {
	return nil, ErrNotFound
}
return value, nil
```

Source: https://strider.gempir.com/analyzers/nil-value-with-nil-error/index.mdx