diff --git a/net/secureservice/handshake/handshake.go b/net/secureservice/handshake/handshake.go
index 271de569..24cc84a8 100644
--- a/net/secureservice/handshake/handshake.go
+++ b/net/secureservice/handshake/handshake.go
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@ const (
 )
 
 type HandshakeError struct {
-	err error
+	Err error
 	e   handshakeproto.Error
 }
 
 func (he HandshakeError) Error() string {
-	if he.err != nil {
-		return he.err.Error()
+	if he.Err != nil {
+		return he.Err.Error()
 	}
 	return he.e.String()
 }
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ var (
 	ErrUnexpectedPayload       = HandshakeError{e: handshakeproto.Error_UnexpectedPayload}
 	ErrDeadlineExceeded        = HandshakeError{e: handshakeproto.Error_DeadlineExceeded}
 	ErrInvalidCredentials      = HandshakeError{e: handshakeproto.Error_InvalidCredentials}
-	ErrPeerDeclinedCredentials = HandshakeError{err: errors.New("remote peer declined the credentials")}
+	ErrPeerDeclinedCredentials = HandshakeError{Err: errors.New("remote peer declined the credentials")}
 	ErrSkipVerifyNotAllowed    = HandshakeError{e: handshakeproto.Error_SkipVerifyNotAllowed}
 	ErrUnexpected              = HandshakeError{e: handshakeproto.Error_Unexpected}
 
diff --git a/net/secureservice/handshake/handshake_test.go b/net/secureservice/handshake/handshake_test.go
index 8f332363..d548e9a0 100644
--- a/net/secureservice/handshake/handshake_test.go
+++ b/net/secureservice/handshake/handshake_test.go
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ func TestIncomingHandshake(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, handshakeproto.Error_IncompatibleVersion, msg.ack.Error)
 
 		res := <-handshakeResCh
-		require.EqualError(t, res.err, ErrIncompatibleVersion.Error())
+		assert.Equal(t, res.err, ErrIncompatibleVersion)
 	})
 	t.Run("write cred instead ack", func(t *testing.T) {
 		c1, c2 := newConnPair(t)
diff --git a/net/secureservice/secureservice.go b/net/secureservice/secureservice.go
index 2167b20c..a98e332b 100644
--- a/net/secureservice/secureservice.go
+++ b/net/secureservice/secureservice.go
@@ -16,19 +16,6 @@ import (
 	"net"
 )
 
-type HandshakeError struct {
-	remoteAddr string
-	err        error
-}
-
-func (he HandshakeError) RemoteAddr() string {
-	return he.remoteAddr
-}
-
-func (he HandshakeError) Error() string {
-	return he.err.Error()
-}
-
 const CName = "common.net.secure"
 
 var log = logger.NewNamed(CName)
@@ -91,18 +78,14 @@ func (s *secureService) Name() (name string) {
 func (s *secureService) SecureInbound(ctx context.Context, conn net.Conn) (cctx context.Context, sc sec.SecureConn, err error) {
 	sc, err = s.p2pTr.SecureInbound(ctx, conn, "")
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, HandshakeError{
-			remoteAddr: conn.RemoteAddr().String(),
-			err:        err,
+		return nil, nil, handshake.HandshakeError{
+			Err: err,
 		}
 	}
 
 	identity, err := handshake.IncomingHandshake(ctx, sc, s.inboundChecker)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, HandshakeError{
-			remoteAddr: conn.RemoteAddr().String(),
-			err:        err,
-		}
+		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 	cctx = context.Background()
 	cctx = peer.CtxWithPeerId(cctx, sc.RemotePeer().String())
@@ -113,7 +96,7 @@ func (s *secureService) SecureInbound(ctx context.Context, conn net.Conn) (cctx
 func (s *secureService) SecureOutbound(ctx context.Context, conn net.Conn) (sec.SecureConn, error) {
 	sc, err := s.p2pTr.SecureOutbound(ctx, conn, "")
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, HandshakeError{err: err, remoteAddr: conn.RemoteAddr().String()}
+		return nil, handshake.HandshakeError{Err: err}
 	}
 	peerId := sc.RemotePeer().String()
 	confTypes := s.nodeconf.NodeTypes(peerId)
@@ -126,7 +109,7 @@ func (s *secureService) SecureOutbound(ctx context.Context, conn net.Conn) (sec.
 	// ignore identity for outgoing connection because we don't need it at this moment
 	_, err = handshake.OutgoingHandshake(ctx, sc, checker)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, HandshakeError{err: err, remoteAddr: conn.RemoteAddr().String()}
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	return sc, nil
 }
diff --git a/net/secureservice/secureservice_test.go b/net/secureservice/secureservice_test.go
index a70a883f..c60effab 100644
--- a/net/secureservice/secureservice_test.go
+++ b/net/secureservice/secureservice_test.go
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ func TestHandshakeIncompatibleVersion(t *testing.T) {
 	fxC := newFixture(t, nc, nc.GetAccountService(1), 1)
 	defer fxC.Finish(t)
 	_, err := fxC.SecureOutbound(ctx, cc)
-	require.EqualError(t, err, handshake.ErrIncompatibleVersion.Error())
+	require.Equal(t, handshake.ErrIncompatibleVersion, err)
 	res := <-resCh
-	require.EqualError(t, res.err, handshake.ErrIncompatibleVersion.Error())
+	require.Equal(t, handshake.ErrIncompatibleVersion, res.err)
 }
 
 func newFixture(t *testing.T, nc *testnodeconf.Config, acc accountservice.Service, protoVersion uint32) *fixture {