diff --git a/lib/transfer.c b/lib/transfer.c
index 83e894750f..ba46161388 100644
--- a/lib/transfer.c
+++ b/lib/transfer.c
@@ -176,9 +176,9 @@ static bool xfer_recv_shutdown_started(struct Curl_easy *data)
   int sockindex;
 
   if(!data || !data->conn)
-    return CURLE_FAILED_INIT;
+    return false;
   if(data->conn->sockfd == CURL_SOCKET_BAD)
-    return CURLE_FAILED_INIT;
+    return false;
   sockindex = (data->conn->sockfd == data->conn->sock[SECONDARYSOCKET]);
   return Curl_shutdown_started(data, sockindex);
 }