diff --git a/retrieval/scrape_test.go b/retrieval/scrape_test.go
index e07cbdc85..489d73c36 100644
--- a/retrieval/scrape_test.go
+++ b/retrieval/scrape_test.go
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ func TestTargetScrapeScrapeCancel(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 
-	done := make(chan struct{})
+	errc := make(chan error)
 
 	go func() {
 		time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
@@ -515,15 +515,18 @@ func TestTargetScrapeScrapeCancel(t *testing.T) {
 
 	go func() {
 		if _, err := ts.scrape(ctx, time.Now()); err != context.Canceled {
-			t.Fatalf("Expected context cancelation error but got: %s", err)
+			errc <- fmt.Errorf("Expected context cancelation error but got: %s", err)
 		}
-		close(done)
+		close(errc)
 	}()
 
 	select {
 	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
 		t.Fatalf("Scrape function did not return unexpectedly")
-	case <-done:
+	case err := <-errc:
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf(err.Error())
+		}
 	}
 	// If this is closed in a defer above the function the test server
 	// does not terminate and the test doens't complete.
diff --git a/storage/local/persistence_test.go b/storage/local/persistence_test.go
index 9756b41a8..2b3785766 100644
--- a/storage/local/persistence_test.go
+++ b/storage/local/persistence_test.go
@@ -1097,11 +1097,12 @@ func TestQuranatineSeriesFile(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("Unexpected state of quarantined file %q. Expected it to exist: %t. os.Stat returned: %s.", quarantinedFile, seriesFileShouldExist, err)
 		}
 		f, err := os.Open(hintFile)
-		defer f.Close()
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("Could not open hint file %q: %s", hintFile, err)
 			return
 		}
+		defer f.Close()
+
 		scanner := bufio.NewScanner(f)
 		for _, want := range contentHintFile {
 			if !scanner.Scan() {