diff --git a/beater/pubsubbeat.go b/beater/pubsubbeat.go
index dc6846f60..bd55d96da 100644
--- a/beater/pubsubbeat.go
+++ b/beater/pubsubbeat.go
@@ -192,12 +192,12 @@ func getOrCreateSubscription(client *pubsub.Client, config *config.Config) (*pub
 		RetainAckedMessages: config.Subscription.RetainAckedMessages,
 		RetentionDuration:   config.Subscription.RetentionDuration,
 	})
-
-	if st, ok := status.FromError(err); ok && st.Code() == codes.AlreadyExists {
+	st, ok := status.FromError(err)
+	if ok && st.Code() == codes.AlreadyExists {
 		// The subscription already exists.
 		subscription = client.Subscription(config.Subscription.Name)
 	} else if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("project %q does not exists", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(st.Message())
 	} else if ok && st.Code() == codes.NotFound {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("topic %q does not exists", config.Topic)
 	} else if !ok {