diff --git a/src/locking/lock_daemon.c b/src/locking/lock_daemon.c
index 7c89adf077..65c38139c4 100644
--- a/src/locking/lock_daemon.c
+++ b/src/locking/lock_daemon.c
@@ -452,8 +452,7 @@ virLockDaemonUnixSocketPaths(bool privileged,
         g_autofree char *rundir = NULL;
         mode_t old_umask;
 
-        if (!(rundir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory()))
-            return -1;
+        rundir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory();
 
         old_umask = umask(077);
         if (virFileMakePath(rundir) < 0) {
@@ -823,8 +822,7 @@ virLockDaemonExecRestartStatePath(bool privileged,
         g_autofree char *rundir = NULL;
         mode_t old_umask;
 
-        if (!(rundir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory()))
-            return -1;
+        rundir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory();
 
         old_umask = umask(077);
         if (virFileMakePath(rundir) < 0) {
@@ -1224,10 +1222,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     if (privileged) {
         run_dir = g_strdup(RUNSTATEDIR "/libvirt");
     } else {
-        if (!(run_dir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory())) {
-            VIR_ERROR(_("Can't determine user directory"));
-            goto cleanup;
-        }
+        run_dir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory();
     }
 
     if (privileged)
diff --git a/src/locking/lock_driver_lockd.c b/src/locking/lock_driver_lockd.c
index 8ca77e525d..339e2f6949 100644
--- a/src/locking/lock_driver_lockd.c
+++ b/src/locking/lock_driver_lockd.c
@@ -124,8 +124,7 @@ static char *virLockManagerLockDaemonPath(bool privileged)
     } else {
         g_autofree char *rundir = NULL;
 
-        if (!(rundir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory()))
-            return NULL;
+        rundir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory();
 
         path = g_strdup_printf("%s/virtlockd-sock", rundir);
     }