diff --git a/router/router.go b/router/router.go
index d639fb7d..af245e8e 100644
--- a/router/router.go
+++ b/router/router.go
@@ -389,12 +389,9 @@ func (router *Router) Gossip() GossipData {
 
 func (router *Router) OnGossip(update []byte) (GossipData, error) {
 	newUpdate, err := router.applyTopologyUpdate(update)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err != nil || len(newUpdate) == 0 {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	if len(newUpdate) == 0 {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
 	return &TopologyGossipData{peers: router.Peers, update: newUpdate}, nil
 }