diff --git a/src/nix/flake.cc b/src/nix/flake.cc
index 10bbcaf43..1140548e7 100644
--- a/src/nix/flake.cc
+++ b/src/nix/flake.cc
@@ -742,7 +742,6 @@ struct CmdFlakeInitCommon : virtual Args, EvalCommand
 
         std::vector<Path> changedFiles;
         std::vector<Path> conflictedFiles;
-        auto success = false;
 
         std::function<void(const Path & from, const Path & to)> copyDir;
         copyDir = [&](const Path & from, const Path & to)
@@ -761,7 +760,6 @@ struct CmdFlakeInitCommon : virtual Args, EvalCommand
                         auto contents2 = readFile(to2);
                         if (contents != contents2) {
                             printError("refusing to overwrite existing file '%s'\n please merge it manually with '%s'", to2, from2);
-                            success = false;
                             conflictedFiles.push_back(to2);
                         } else {
                             notice("skipping identical file: %s", from2);
@@ -775,7 +773,6 @@ struct CmdFlakeInitCommon : virtual Args, EvalCommand
                     if (pathExists(to2)) {
                         if (readLink(to2) != target) {
                             printError("refusing to overwrite existing file '%s'\n please merge it manually with '%s'", to2, from2);
-                            success = false;
                             conflictedFiles.push_back(to2);
                         } else {
                             notice("skipping identical file: %s", from2);
@@ -803,8 +800,8 @@ struct CmdFlakeInitCommon : virtual Args, EvalCommand
             notice(renderMarkdownToTerminal(welcomeText->getString()));
         }
 
-        if (!success)
-            throw Error("Encountered %d conflicts - please merge manually", conflictedFiles.size());
+        if (!conflictedFiles.empty())
+            throw Error("Encountered %d conflicts - see above", conflictedFiles.size());
     }
 };