diff --git a/internal/lsp/cache/load.go b/internal/lsp/cache/load.go
index 27bfbc8221..4b93bbad8a 100644
--- a/internal/lsp/cache/load.go
+++ b/internal/lsp/cache/load.go
@@ -121,10 +121,12 @@ func (s *snapshot) load(ctx context.Context, scopes ...interface{}) error {
 		}
 		event.Error(ctx, "go/packages.Load", err, tag.Snapshot.Of(s.ID()), tag.Directory.Of(cfg.Dir), tag.Query.Of(query), tag.PackageCount.Of(len(pkgs)))
 	} else {
-		err = fmt.Errorf("no packages returned")
 		event.Log(ctx, "go/packages.Load", tag.Snapshot.Of(s.ID()), tag.Directory.Of(cfg.Dir), tag.Query.Of(query), tag.PackageCount.Of(len(pkgs)))
 	}
 	if len(pkgs) == 0 {
+		if err == nil {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("no packages returned")
+		}
 		return errors.Errorf("%v: %w", err, source.PackagesLoadError)
 	}