diff --git a/cmd/cover/html.go b/cmd/cover/html.go
index f6b22640..ef50e2bf 100644
--- a/cmd/cover/html.go
+++ b/cmd/cover/html.go
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ func htmlOutput(profile, outfile string) error {
 	} else {
 		out, err = os.Create(outfile)
 	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	err = htmlTemplate.Execute(out, d)
 	if err == nil {
 		err = out.Close()