diff --git a/plugins/python/python_plugin_audit.c b/plugins/python/python_plugin_audit.c
index e2036ed6e..58d59f75d 100644
--- a/plugins/python/python_plugin_audit.c
+++ b/plugins/python/python_plugin_audit.c
@@ -62,8 +62,6 @@ _call_plugin_open(struct AuditPluginContext *audit_ctx, int submit_optind, char
     if (py_submit_argv != NULL) {
         rc = python_plugin_api_rc_call(plugin_ctx, CALLBACK_PYNAME(open),
                                        Py_BuildValue("(iO)", submit_optind, py_submit_argv));
-    } else {
-        rc = SUDO_RC_ERROR;
     }
 
     Py_XDECREF(py_submit_argv);
diff --git a/plugins/python/python_plugin_common.c b/plugins/python/python_plugin_common.c
index a583a5e58..77db50e4b 100644
--- a/plugins/python/python_plugin_common.c
+++ b/plugins/python/python_plugin_common.c
@@ -309,7 +309,6 @@ python_plugin_construct(struct PluginContext *plugin_ctx, unsigned int version,
 
     if (py_kwargs == NULL) {
         py_log_last_error("Failed to construct plugin instance");
-        rc = SUDO_RC_ERROR;
     } else {
         rc = python_plugin_construct_custom(plugin_ctx, py_kwargs);
     }
diff --git a/plugins/python/python_plugin_io.c b/plugins/python/python_plugin_io.c
index 46289c361..d554cb58b 100644
--- a/plugins/python/python_plugin_io.c
+++ b/plugins/python/python_plugin_io.c
@@ -64,8 +64,6 @@ _call_plugin_open(struct IOPluginContext *io_ctx, int argc, char * const argv[],
     if (py_argv != NULL && py_command_info != NULL) {
         rc = python_plugin_api_rc_call(plugin_ctx, CALLBACK_PYNAME(open),
                                        Py_BuildValue("(OO)", py_argv, py_command_info));
-    } else {
-        rc = SUDO_RC_ERROR;
     }
 
     if (rc != SUDO_RC_OK)
diff --git a/plugins/python/python_plugin_policy.c b/plugins/python/python_plugin_policy.c
index 776c9e0a4..5f356c2b5 100644
--- a/plugins/python/python_plugin_policy.c
+++ b/plugins/python/python_plugin_policy.c
@@ -132,7 +132,6 @@ python_plugin_policy_check(int argc, char * const argv[],
                               &PyTuple_Type, &py_argv_out,
                               &PyTuple_Type, &py_user_env_out))
         {
-            rc = SUDO_RC_ERROR;
             goto cleanup;
         }
     } else {