diff --git a/.github/workflows/lints.yml b/.github/workflows/lints.yml
index e2a698b75..66a95a115 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lints.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lints.yml
@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
-          go-version: 1.21
+          go-version: 1.24
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - name: golangci-lint
         uses: golangci/golangci-lint-action@v3
         with:
-          version: v1.55.1
+          version: v1.64.4
           args: --timeout=5m
diff --git a/mantle/cmd/ore/azure/delete-blob.go b/mantle/cmd/ore/azure/delete-blob.go
index 7553d16ae..5cc515077 100644
--- a/mantle/cmd/ore/azure/delete-blob.go
+++ b/mantle/cmd/ore/azure/delete-blob.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func runDeleteBlob(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	if err != nil {
 		plog.Fatalf("Fetching storage service keys failed: %v", err)
 	}
-	if kr.Keys == nil || len(kr.Keys) == 0 {
+	if len(kr.Keys) == 0 {
 		plog.Fatalf("No storage service keys found")
 	}
 	k := kr.Keys
diff --git a/mantle/cmd/ore/azure/upload-blob.go b/mantle/cmd/ore/azure/upload-blob.go
index cdaca61d6..d99b95c5a 100644
--- a/mantle/cmd/ore/azure/upload-blob.go
+++ b/mantle/cmd/ore/azure/upload-blob.go
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func runUploadBlob(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	if err != nil {
 		plog.Fatalf("Fetching storage service keys failed: %v", err)
 	}
-	if kr.Keys == nil || len(kr.Keys) == 0 {
+	if len(kr.Keys) == 0 {
 		plog.Fatalf("No storage service keys found")
 	}
 	k := kr.Keys
diff --git a/mantle/kola/tests/ignition/kdump.go b/mantle/kola/tests/ignition/kdump.go
index e7266b2aa..55cf7a4cf 100644
--- a/mantle/kola/tests/ignition/kdump.go
+++ b/mantle/kola/tests/ignition/kdump.go
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ kernel_arguments:
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		} else if string(kdump_status) == "inactive" {
-			return fmt.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("Kdump.service is not ready: %s.", string(kdump_status)))
+			return fmt.Errorf("kdump.service is not ready: %s", string(kdump_status))
 		}
 		return nil
 	})
diff --git a/mantle/kola/tests/misc/network.go b/mantle/kola/tests/misc/network.go
index d131e9f0a..49506acba 100644
--- a/mantle/kola/tests/misc/network.go
+++ b/mantle/kola/tests/misc/network.go
@@ -612,7 +612,8 @@ func checkExpectedInterfacesStatus(c cluster.TestCluster, m platform.Machine, ma
 	}
 
 	if len(failedConnections) != 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf(strings.Join(failedConnections, ","))
+		failed := strings.Join(failedConnections, ",")
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed connections: %s", failed)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -642,7 +643,8 @@ func checkExpectedInterfacesIPAddress(c cluster.TestCluster, m platform.Machine,
 	}
 
 	if len(failedConnections) != 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf(strings.Join(failedConnections, ","))
+		failed := strings.Join(failedConnections, ",")
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed connections: %s", failed)
 	}
 	return nil
 }