diff --git a/rust2rpm/metadata.py b/rust2rpm/metadata.py
index 306dd53..dc1da53 100644
--- a/rust2rpm/metadata.py
+++ b/rust2rpm/metadata.py
@@ -381,14 +381,11 @@ class Metadata:
 
     @staticmethod
     def manifest(path, check=True):
-        manifest = {}
         output = subprocess.run(
             ["cargo", "read-manifest", f"--manifest-path={path}"],
             check=check, capture_output=True
         )
-        if not output.returncode:
-            manifest = json.loads(output.stdout)
-        return manifest
+        return json.loads(output.stdout)
 
     @staticmethod
     def metadata(path, deps=False):