diff --git a/drivers/virtualbox/virtualbox_windows.go b/drivers/virtualbox/virtualbox_windows.go
index 476a27719e..7c56685547 100644
--- a/drivers/virtualbox/virtualbox_windows.go
+++ b/drivers/virtualbox/virtualbox_windows.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func findVBoxInstallDirInRegistry() (string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		errorMessage := fmt.Sprintf("Can't find VirtualBox registry entries, is VirtualBox really installed properly? %s", err)
 		log.Debugf(errorMessage)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf(errorMessage)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf(errorMessage)
 	}
 
 	defer registryKey.Close()
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func findVBoxInstallDirInRegistry() (string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		errorMessage := fmt.Sprintf("Can't find InstallDir registry key within VirtualBox registries entries, is VirtualBox really installed properly? %s", err)
 		log.Debugf(errorMessage)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf(errorMessage)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf(errorMessage)
 	}
 
 	return installDir, nil