diff --git a/middleware/packet-forward-middleware/packetforward/keeper/params.go b/middleware/packet-forward-middleware/packetforward/keeper/params.go
index 541eb438..46090022 100644
--- a/middleware/packet-forward-middleware/packetforward/keeper/params.go
+++ b/middleware/packet-forward-middleware/packetforward/keeper/params.go
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ func (k Keeper) SetParams(ctx sdk.Context, p types.Params) error {
 }
 
 // GetParams returns the current module parameters.
-func (k Keeper) GetParams(ctx sdk.Context) (p types.Params) {
+func (k Keeper) GetParams(ctx sdk.Context) types.Params {
+	var p types.Params
+
 	store := ctx.KVStore(k.storeKey)
 	bz := store.Get(types.ParamsKey)
 	if bz == nil {