diff --git a/pkg/encoding/erasure/erasure_encode.go b/pkg/encoding/erasure/erasure_encode.go
index f1a1df5e7..53fc1cd41 100644
--- a/pkg/encoding/erasure/erasure_encode.go
+++ b/pkg/encoding/erasure/erasure_encode.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ type Technique uint8
 const (
 	Vandermonde Technique = iota
 	Cauchy
+	None
 )
 
 const (
diff --git a/pkg/storage/donut/erasure.go b/pkg/storage/donut/erasure.go
index b8552e601..230f83d27 100644
--- a/pkg/storage/donut/erasure.go
+++ b/pkg/storage/donut/erasure.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func getErasureTechnique(technique string) (erasure.Technique, error) {
 	case technique == "Vandermonde":
 		return erasure.Cauchy, nil
 	default:
-		return -1, errors.New("Invalid erasure technique")
+		return erasure.None, errors.New("Invalid erasure technique")
 	}
 }