diff --git a/lib/dictBuilder/cover.c b/lib/dictBuilder/cover.c
index 62199675..4721205d 100644
--- a/lib/dictBuilder/cover.c
+++ b/lib/dictBuilder/cover.c
@@ -919,13 +919,12 @@ void COVER_best_finish(COVER_best_t *best, ZDICT_cover_params_t parameters,
         }
       }
       /* Save the dictionary, parameters, and size */
-      if (!dict) {
-        return;
+      if (dict) {
+        memcpy(best->dict, dict, dictSize);
+        best->dictSize = dictSize;
+        best->parameters = parameters;
+        best->compressedSize = compressedSize;
       }
-      memcpy(best->dict, dict, dictSize);
-      best->dictSize = dictSize;
-      best->parameters = parameters;
-      best->compressedSize = compressedSize;
     }
     if (liveJobs == 0) {
       ZSTD_pthread_cond_broadcast(&best->cond);