diff --git a/checkpoint.go b/checkpoint.go
index 228b6072..b759db42 100644
--- a/checkpoint.go
+++ b/checkpoint.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ checkpointed.`,
 			return err
 		}
 		if status == libcontainer.Created || status == libcontainer.Stopped {
-			fatalf("Container cannot be checkpointed in %s state", status.String())
+			fatal(fmt.Errorf("Container cannot be checkpointed in %s state", status.String()))
 		}
 		options := criuOptions(context)
 		if !(options.LeaveRunning || options.PreDump) {
diff --git a/utils_linux.go b/utils_linux.go
index e4ba344c..1b0f21bc 100644
--- a/utils_linux.go
+++ b/utils_linux.go
@@ -91,10 +91,6 @@ func getContainer(context *cli.Context) (libcontainer.Container, error) {
 	return factory.Load(id)
 }
 
-func fatalf(t string, v ...interface{}) {
-	fatal(fmt.Errorf(t, v...))
-}
-
 func getDefaultImagePath(context *cli.Context) string {
 	cwd, err := os.Getwd()
 	if err != nil {