diff --git a/lib/runner.js b/lib/runner.js
index b7f35e50..ca48aaad 100644
--- a/lib/runner.js
+++ b/lib/runner.js
@@ -48,13 +48,9 @@ async function request(requestOptions, callback) {
       debug("Headers: %j", resp.headers._headers);
 
       if (!resp.ok) {
-        var err = new Error(
-          "HTTP request failed: " +
-            (err
-              ? err.toString()
-              : "received HTTP " + resp.status + " " + resp.statusText),
-        );
-        callback(err);
+        callback(new Error(
+          "HTTP request failed: received HTTP " + resp.status + " " + resp.statusText
+        ));
       } else {
         return resp.text(); // a promise
       }