diff --git a/state.c b/state.c
index 60e8ad3a4..a440d00bb 100644
--- a/state.c
+++ b/state.c
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ struct state_effect *state(const tal_t *ctx,
 			return next_state(ctx, effect, STATE_CLOSE_WAIT_CLOSE);
 		} else if (input_is(input, PKT_ERROR)) {
 			add_effect(&effect, in_error,
-				   set_errpkt(ctx, idata->pkt));
+				   tal_steal(ctx, idata->pkt));
 			goto start_unilateral_close_already_closing;
 		} else if (input_is_pkt(input)) {
 			/* We ignore all other packets while closing. */
@@ -845,7 +845,7 @@ unexpected_pkt:
 	 */
 	/* Don't reply to an error with an error. */
 	if (input_is(input, PKT_ERROR)) {
-		add_effect(&effect, in_error, set_errpkt(ctx, idata->pkt));
+		add_effect(&effect, in_error, tal_steal(ctx, idata->pkt));
 		goto start_unilateral_close;
 	}
 	err = unexpected_pkt(ctx, input);
diff --git a/test/test_state_coverage.c b/test/test_state_coverage.c
index 9a65c5b8d..61e17b008 100644
--- a/test/test_state_coverage.c
+++ b/test/test_state_coverage.c
@@ -482,12 +482,6 @@ static enum state_input input_by_name(const char *name)
 	abort();
 }
 
-/* We don't bother with lifetime issues */
-static Pkt *set_errpkt(const tal_t *ctx, const Pkt *pkt)
-{
-	return (Pkt *)pkt;
-}
-
 static Pkt *new_pkt(const tal_t *ctx, enum state_input i)
 {
 	return (Pkt *)input_name(i);