diff --git a/x/slashing/keeper_test.go b/x/slashing/keeper_test.go
index 70f42b3243..c14e063151 100644
--- a/x/slashing/keeper_test.go
+++ b/x/slashing/keeper_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ func TestHandleDoubleSign(t *testing.T) {
 	addr, val, amt := addrs[0], pks[0], int64(100)
 	got := stake.NewHandler(sk)(ctx, newTestMsgDeclareCandidacy(addr, val, amt))
 	require.True(t, got.IsOK())
-	_ = sk.Tick(ctx)
+	sk.Tick(ctx)
 	require.Equal(t, ck.GetCoins(ctx, addr), sdk.Coins{{sk.GetParams(ctx).BondDenom, initCoins - amt}})
 	require.Equal(t, sdk.NewRat(amt), sk.Validator(ctx, addr).GetPower())
 	keeper.handleDoubleSign(ctx, 0, 0, val) // double sign less than max age
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func TestHandleAbsentValidator(t *testing.T) {
 	slh := NewHandler(keeper)
 	got := sh(ctx, newTestMsgDeclareCandidacy(addr, val, amt))
 	require.True(t, got.IsOK())
-	_ = sk.Tick(ctx)
+	sk.Tick(ctx)
 	require.Equal(t, ck.GetCoins(ctx, addr), sdk.Coins{{sk.GetParams(ctx).BondDenom, initCoins - amt}})
 	require.Equal(t, sdk.NewRat(amt), sk.Validator(ctx, addr).GetPower())
 	info, found := keeper.getValidatorSigningInfo(ctx, val.Address())
diff --git a/x/slashing/signing_info.go b/x/slashing/signing_info.go
index fcbb0d1c7e..05285b6809 100644
--- a/x/slashing/signing_info.go
+++ b/x/slashing/signing_info.go
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ func (k Keeper) getValidatorSigningInfo(ctx sdk.Context, address sdk.Address) (i
 	bz := store.Get(validatorSigningInfoKey(address))
 	if bz == nil {
 		found = false
-	} else {
-		k.cdc.MustUnmarshalBinary(bz, &info)
-		found = true
+		return
 	}
+	k.cdc.MustUnmarshalBinary(bz, &info)
+	found = true
 	return
 }
 
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ func (k Keeper) getValidatorSigningBitArray(ctx sdk.Context, address sdk.Address
 	if bz == nil {
 		// lazy: treat empty key as unsigned
 		signed = false
-	} else {
-		k.cdc.MustUnmarshalBinary(bz, &signed)
+		return
 	}
+	k.cdc.MustUnmarshalBinary(bz, &signed)
 	return
 }