diff --git a/npm/util/errors/errors.go b/npm/util/errors/errors.go
index 175c67f887..f9ded48f35 100644
--- a/npm/util/errors/errors.go
+++ b/npm/util/errors/errors.go
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ type NPMSimpleError struct {
 }
 
 func SimpleError(errstring string) *NPMSimpleError {
-	return nil
+	return &NPMSimpleError{fmt.Errorf("%s", errstring)} //nolint:goerr113 // need to re-structure error handler in next PR
 }
 
 func SimpleErrorWrapper(errstring string, err error) *NPMSimpleError {