diff --git a/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/awstasks/load_balancer.go b/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/awstasks/load_balancer.go
index 85fcaf616b..22f6051e7c 100644
--- a/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/awstasks/load_balancer.go
+++ b/upup/pkg/fi/cloudup/awstasks/load_balancer.go
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ func describeLoadBalancers(cloud awsup.AWSCloud, request *elb.DescribeLoadBalanc
 	})
 
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error listing ELBs: %v", err)
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return found, nil