diff --git a/internal/controller/mantlebackup_controller.go b/internal/controller/mantlebackup_controller.go
index ce34be58..957b1cf8 100644
--- a/internal/controller/mantlebackup_controller.go
+++ b/internal/controller/mantlebackup_controller.go
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ func (r *MantleBackupReconciler) replicate(
 	}
 	prepareResult, err := r.prepareForDataSynchronization(ctx, backup, r.primarySettings.Client)
 	if err != nil {
-		return result, err
+		return ctrl.Result{}, err
 	}
 
 	// FIXME: Delete this code after implementing export().