diff --git a/pfcpiface/bess.go b/pfcpiface/bess.go
index 2a98a6dcc..aa2cb88eb 100644
--- a/pfcpiface/bess.go
+++ b/pfcpiface/bess.go
@@ -219,7 +219,11 @@ func (b *bess) getPortStats(ifname string) *pb.GetPortStatsResponse {
 	}
 
 	res, err := b.client.GetPortStats(ctx, req)
-	if err != nil || res.GetError() != nil {
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Println("Error calling GetPortStats", ifname, err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	if res.GetError() != nil {
 		log.Println("Error calling GetPortStats", ifname, err, res.GetError().Errmsg)
 		return nil
 	}