diff --git a/cmd/bucket-object-lock.go b/cmd/bucket-object-lock.go
index 686ae240d..984dd9d47 100644
--- a/cmd/bucket-object-lock.go
+++ b/cmd/bucket-object-lock.go
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ func checkPutObjectLockAllowed(ctx context.Context, rq *http.Request, bucket, ob
 	if legalHoldRequested {
 		var lerr error
 		if legalHold, lerr = objectlock.ParseObjectLockLegalHoldHeaders(rq.Header); lerr != nil {
-			return mode, retainDate, legalHold, toAPIErrorCode(ctx, err)
+			return mode, retainDate, legalHold, toAPIErrorCode(ctx, lerr)
 		}
 	}