diff --git a/ipn/local.go b/ipn/local.go
index a639b5c2283d0..a751b7d9f95e8 100644
--- a/ipn/local.go
+++ b/ipn/local.go
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ func (b *LocalBackend) loadStateLocked(key StateKey, prefs *Prefs, legacyPath st
 	b.logf("Using backend prefs")
 	bs, err := b.store.ReadState(key)
 	if err != nil {
-		if err == ErrStateNotExist {
+		if errors.Is(err, ErrStateNotExist) {
 			if legacyPath != "" {
 				b.prefs, err = LoadPrefs(legacyPath, true)
 				if err != nil {