diff --git a/invenio_utilities_tuw/cli/utils.py b/invenio_utilities_tuw/cli/utils.py
index 8e643f580e920ba0feecc57449f5c5c9be03de5a..94e6a57ed1ed9dce482ba65d12cb1d82ed656b4b 100644
--- a/invenio_utilities_tuw/cli/utils.py
+++ b/invenio_utilities_tuw/cli/utils.py
@@ -83,18 +83,16 @@ def patch_metadata(metadata: dict, patch: dict) -> dict:
 
 def get_identity_for_user(user):
     """Get the Identity for the user specified via email or ID."""
-    identity = None
     if user is not None:
         # note: this seems like the canonical way to go
         #       'as_user' can be either an integer (id) or email address
         u = current_accounts.datastore.get_user(user)
         if u is not None:
-            identity = get_identity(u)
+            return get_identity(u)
         else:
             raise LookupError("user not found: %s" % user)
 
-    if identity is None:
-        return system_identity
+    return system_identity
 
 
 def get_object_uuid(pid_value, pid_type):