diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationapi/writers/threepid.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationapi/writers/threepid.go
index 6525e0ce3..7e70504ad 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationapi/writers/threepid.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/federationapi/writers/threepid.go
@@ -127,10 +127,8 @@ func createInviteFrom3PIDInvite(
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		*builder, err = federation.ExchangeThirdPartyInvite(remoteServer, *builder)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
+		err = federation.ExchangeThirdPartyInvite(remoteServer, *builder)
+		return nil, err
 	} else {
 		// Auth the event locally
 		builder.Depth = queryRes.Depth