diff --git a/server/topic.go b/server/topic.go
index e3167f8f6..34e894115 100644
--- a/server/topic.go
+++ b/server/topic.go
@@ -2422,7 +2422,7 @@ func (t *Topic) replySetTags(sess *Session, asUid types.Uid, msg *ClientComMessa
 
 	now := types.TimeNow()
 
-	if _, err := t.verifyChannelAccess(msg.Original); err != nil {
+	if _, err = t.verifyChannelAccess(msg.Original); err != nil {
 		// User should not be able to address non-channel topic as channel.
 		resp = ErrNotFoundReply(msg, now)
 		err = types.ErrNotFound