diff --git a/gzip-util.go b/gzip-util.go
index 81889c9..492abda 100644
--- a/gzip-util.go
+++ b/gzip-util.go
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ import (
 const GZIP_SUFFIX = ".gz"
 
 func CreateGzipReader(in io.Reader) (reader *bufio.Reader, err error) {
-	inflate, err := gzip.NewReader(in)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Errorf("Can't inflate gzipped input stream: %v", err)
+	var inflate *gzip.Reader
+	if inflate, err = gzip.NewReader(in); err != nil {
+		err = fmt.Errorf("can't inflate gzipped input stream: %v", err)
 	} else {
 		reader = bufio.NewReader(inflate)
 	}
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ func CreateGzipReader(in io.Reader) (reader *bufio.Reader, err error) {
 }
 
 func CreateGzipFile(in io.Reader, fileName string) (reader *bufio.Reader, err error) {
+	var inflate *gzip.Reader
 	if len(fileName) > 0 && strings.HasSuffix(fileName, GZIP_SUFFIX) {
-		inflate, err := gzip.NewReader(in)
-		if err != nil {
-			fmt.Errorf("Can't inflate gzipped input stream %#v: %v", fileName, err)
+		if inflate, err = gzip.NewReader(in); err != nil {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("can't inflate gzipped input stream %#v: %v", fileName, err)
 		} else {
 			reader = bufio.NewReader(inflate)
 		}