diff --git a/command/pr_diff.go b/command/pr_diff.go
index c39c491a4..22217b35b 100644
--- a/command/pr_diff.go
+++ b/command/pr_diff.go
@@ -42,9 +42,8 @@ func prDiff(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	}
 
 	pr, err := prFromArgs(ctx, baseRepo, args...)
-
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not find pull request: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	diff, err := apiClient.PullRequestDiff(baseRepo, pr.Number)
diff --git a/command/pr_lookup.go b/command/pr_lookup.go
index 48cd824ff..7f169ff77 100644
--- a/command/pr_lookup.go
+++ b/command/pr_lookup.go
@@ -22,9 +22,8 @@ func prFromArgs(ctx context.Context, repo ghrepo.Interface, args ...string) (*ap
 		return prForCurrentBranch(ctx, repo)
 	}
 
-	prString := args[0]
-
 	// First check to see if the prString is a url
+	prString := args[0]
 	pr, err := prFromURL(ctx, repo, prString)
 	if pr != nil || err != nil {
 		return pr, err
@@ -37,8 +36,7 @@ func prFromArgs(ctx context.Context, repo ghrepo.Interface, args ...string) (*ap
 	}
 
 	// Last see if it is a branch name
-	pr, err = api.PullRequestForBranch(apiClient, repo, "", prString)
-	return pr, err
+	return api.PullRequestForBranch(apiClient, repo, "", prString)
 }
 
 func prFromNumberString(ctx context.Context, repo ghrepo.Interface, s string) (*api.PullRequest, error) {