diff --git a/src/node_file.cc b/src/node_file.cc
index 8f016ccf02695b..5bde996842b778 100644
--- a/src/node_file.cc
+++ b/src/node_file.cc
@@ -1188,13 +1188,9 @@ static void OpenFileHandle(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
     req_wrap->SetReturnValue(args);
   } else {
     SYNC_CALL(open, *path, *path, flags, mode)
-    if (SYNC_RESULT < 0) {
-      args.GetReturnValue().Set(SYNC_RESULT);
-    } else {
-      HandleScope scope(env->isolate());
-      FileHandle* fd = new FileHandle(env, SYNC_RESULT);
-      args.GetReturnValue().Set(fd->object());
-    }
+    HandleScope scope(env->isolate());
+    FileHandle* fd = new FileHandle(env, SYNC_RESULT);
+    args.GetReturnValue().Set(fd->object());
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/node_file.h b/src/node_file.h
index d49807f5294e01..b76caa1467b3e2 100644
--- a/src/node_file.h
+++ b/src/node_file.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class FSReqBase : public ReqWrap<uv_fs_t> {
 
  private:
   enum encoding encoding_ = UTF8;
-  const char* syscall_;
+  const char* syscall_ = nullptr;
 
   const char* data_ = nullptr;
   MaybeStackBuffer<char> buffer_;