diff --git a/libcontainer/user/user.go b/libcontainer/user/user.go
index f258d6246..8962cab33 100644
--- a/libcontainer/user/user.go
+++ b/libcontainer/user/user.go
@@ -199,18 +199,16 @@ type ExecUser struct {
 // files cannot be opened for any reason, the error is ignored and a nil
 // io.Reader is passed instead.
 func GetExecUserPath(userSpec string, defaults *ExecUser, passwdPath, groupPath string) (*ExecUser, error) {
-	passwd, err := os.Open(passwdPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		passwd = nil
-	} else {
-		defer passwd.Close()
+	var passwd, group io.Reader
+
+	if passwdFile, err := os.Open(passwdPath); err == nil {
+		passwd = passwdFile
+		defer passwdFile.Close()
 	}
 
-	group, err := os.Open(groupPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		group = nil
-	} else {
-		defer group.Close()
+	if groupFile, err := os.Open(groupPath); err == nil {
+		group = groupFile
+		defer groupFile.Close()
 	}
 
 	return GetExecUser(userSpec, defaults, passwd, group)
@@ -433,9 +431,11 @@ func GetAdditionalGroups(additionalGroups []string, group io.Reader) ([]int, err
 // that opens the groupPath given and gives it as an argument to
 // GetAdditionalGroups.
 func GetAdditionalGroupsPath(additionalGroups []string, groupPath string) ([]int, error) {
-	group, err := os.Open(groupPath)
-	if err == nil {
-		defer group.Close()
+	var group io.Reader
+
+	if groupFile, err := os.Open(groupPath); err == nil {
+		group = groupFile
+		defer groupFile.Close()
 	}
 	return GetAdditionalGroups(additionalGroups, group)
 }