diff --git a/internal/repository/checker.go b/internal/repository/checker.go
index 691ffe961..6a77074c7 100644
--- a/internal/repository/checker.go
+++ b/internal/repository/checker.go
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ func (c *Checker) ReadPacks(ctx context.Context, filter func(packs map[restic.ID
 			bufRd := bufio.NewReaderSize(nil, maxStreamBufferSize)
 			dec, err := zstd.NewReader(nil)
 			if err != nil {
-				panic(dec)
+				panic(err)
 			}
 			defer dec.Close()
 			for {