diff --git a/pkg/golinters/nolintlint/internal/nolintlint.go b/pkg/golinters/nolintlint/internal/nolintlint.go
index c0134fd84fc2..45c925e1a5d2 100644
--- a/pkg/golinters/nolintlint/internal/nolintlint.go
+++ b/pkg/golinters/nolintlint/internal/nolintlint.go
@@ -252,17 +252,17 @@ func (l Linter) Run(fset *token.FileSet, nodes ...ast.Node) ([]Issue, error) {
 
 				// when detecting unused directives, we send all the directives through and filter them out in the nolint processor
 				if (l.needs & NeedsUnused) != 0 {
-					removeNolintCompletely := &result.Replacement{
-						Inline: &result.InlineFix{
+					removeNolintCompletely := &result.Replacement{}
+
+					if removeNolintCompletely.Inline.StartCol == 0 {
+						// if the directive starts from a new line, remove the line
+						removeNolintCompletely.NeedOnlyDelete = true
+					} else {
+						removeNolintCompletely.Inline = &result.InlineFix{
 							StartCol:  pos.Column - 1,
 							Length:    end.Column - pos.Column,
 							NewString: "",
-						},
-					}
-					// if the directive starts from a new line, remove the line
-					if removeNolintCompletely.Inline.StartCol == 0 {
-						removeNolintCompletely.NeedOnlyDelete = true
-						removeNolintCompletely.Inline = nil
+						}
 					}
 
 					if len(linters) == 0 {