Error may be not nil

Reports instances where variables might have nil or an unexpected value because of the associated error that is not checked for being non-nil, as in v, err := foo().

The quick-fix removes the function from the scope of this inspection.

Example:

func _() {
    file, err := os.Open("file.txt")
    // Error check is omitted here
    name := file.Name()
    print(name, err)
}

In the example provided, file could be nil or have an unexpected value if err is not nil.

Locating this inspection

By ID

Can be used to locate inspection in e.g. Qodana configuration files, where you can quickly enable or disable it, or adjust its settings.

GoDfaErrorMayBeNotNil

Via Settings dialog

Path to the inspection settings via IntelliJ Platform IDE Settings dialog, when you need to adjust inspection settings directly from your IDE.

Settings or Preferences | Editor | Inspections | Go | Data flow analysis

Inspection ID: GoDfaErrorMayBeNotNil

Inspection options

Here you can find the description of settings available for the Error may be not nil inspection, and the reference of their default values.

Exclude

Import Path

Option ID:

excludedFunctions.myExcludedFunctions.myImportPaths

Default value:

None

Function Name

Option ID:

excludedFunctions.myExcludedFunctions.myFunctionNames

Default value:

None

Import Path

Option ID:

excludedFunctions.myExcludedMethods.myImportPaths

Default value:

None

Receiver

Option ID:

excludedFunctions.myExcludedMethods.myReceivers

Default value:

None

Method Name

Option ID:

excludedFunctions.myExcludedMethods.myMethodNames

Default value:

None

Suppressing Inspection

You can suppress this inspection by placing the following comment marker before the code fragment where you no longer want messages from this inspection to appear:

//noinspection GoDfaErrorMayBeNotNil

More detailed instructions as well as other ways and options that you have can be found in the product documentation:

GoLand 2025.3

Inspection Details
By default bundled with:	GoLand 2025.3, Qodana for Go 2025.3,

Last modified: 04 March 2026