diff --git a/internal/core/manager.go b/internal/core/manager.go
index e6ccc05..ff27740 100644
--- a/internal/core/manager.go
+++ b/internal/core/manager.go
@@ -41,10 +41,8 @@ func NewArtifactManager(config ArtConfig) (*ArtifactManager, error) {
 	}
 
 	finfo, err := os.Stat(baseDir)
-	if err == nil {
-		if !finfo.IsDir() {
-			return nil, errors.New(baseDir + " is not a directory")
-		}
+	if err != nil || !finfo.IsDir() {
+		return nil, errors.New(baseDir + " is not a directory")
 	}
 
 	// init the metadata path