diff --git a/syscall/vm-object.c b/syscall/vm-object.c
index 15a1d9a..383acfa 100644
--- a/syscall/vm-object.c
+++ b/syscall/vm-object.c
@@ -29,12 +29,9 @@ kern_status_t sys_vm_object_create(
 
 	kern_status_t status
 		= task_open_handle(self, &obj->vo_base, 0, out_handle);
-	if (status != KERN_OK) {
-		object_unref(&obj->vo_base);
-		return status;
-	}
+	object_unref(&obj->vo_base);
 
-	return KERN_OK;
+	return status;
 }
 
 kern_status_t sys_vm_object_read(