diff --git a/syft/internal/unionreader/lazy_union_reader.go b/syft/internal/unionreader/lazy_union_reader.go
index 546306fd2..183308c92 100644
--- a/syft/internal/unionreader/lazy_union_reader.go
+++ b/syft/internal/unionreader/lazy_union_reader.go
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func (c *lazyUnionReader) readAll() error {
 		return err
 	}
 	c.buf = append(c.buf, buf...)
-	return nil
+	return err
 }
 
 func (c *lazyUnionReader) ensureReadUntil(offset int64) error {