diff --git a/receiver/receivercreator/runner.go b/receiver/receivercreator/runner.go
index 7d8abafaf413..ab76676f66d6 100644
--- a/receiver/receivercreator/runner.go
+++ b/receiver/receivercreator/runner.go
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func (run *receiverRunner) start(
 	}
 
 	if err = wr.Start(context.Background(), run.host); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed starting endpoint-derived receiver: %w", createError)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed starting endpoint-derived receiver: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	return wr, nil