diff --git a/src/Drivers/Abstract/Decoders/AbstractDecoder.php b/src/Drivers/Abstract/Decoders/AbstractDecoder.php
index 93740041..953ba942 100644
--- a/src/Drivers/Abstract/Decoders/AbstractDecoder.php
+++ b/src/Drivers/Abstract/Decoders/AbstractDecoder.php
@@ -15,16 +15,16 @@ abstract class AbstractDecoder
         //
     }
 
-    final public function handle($input): null|ImageInterface|ColorInterface
+    final public function handle($input): ImageInterface|ColorInterface
     {
         try {
             $decoded = $this->decode($input);
         } catch (DecoderException $e) {
-            if ($this->hasSuccessor()) {
-                return $this->successor->handle($input);
+            if (!$this->hasSuccessor()) {
+                $this->fail();
             }
 
-            $this->fail();
+            return $this->successor->handle($input);
         }
 
         return $decoded;
diff --git a/tests/Drivers/Abstract/Decoders/AbstractDecoderTest.php b/tests/Drivers/Abstract/Decoders/AbstractDecoderTest.php
index 157c3474..7d567344 100644
--- a/tests/Drivers/Abstract/Decoders/AbstractDecoderTest.php
+++ b/tests/Drivers/Abstract/Decoders/AbstractDecoderTest.php
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ namespace Intervention\Image\Tests\Drivers\Abstract\Decoders;
 
 use Intervention\Image\Drivers\Abstract\Decoders\AbstractDecoder;
 use Intervention\Image\Exceptions\DecoderException;
+use Intervention\Image\Interfaces\ColorInterface;
 use Intervention\Image\Tests\TestCase;
 use Mockery;
 
@@ -16,31 +17,36 @@ class AbstractDecoderTest extends TestCase
 {
     public function testHandle(): void
     {
+        $result = Mockery::mock(ColorInterface::class);
         $decoder = Mockery::mock(AbstractDecoder::class)->makePartial();
-        $decoder->shouldReceive('decode')->with('input string')->andReturn(null);
+        $decoder->shouldReceive('decode')->with('test input')->andReturn($result);
 
-        $decoder->handle('input string');
+        $decoder->handle('test input');
     }
 
     public function testHandleFail(): void
     {
         $decoder = Mockery::mock(AbstractDecoder::class, [])->makePartial()->shouldAllowMockingProtectedMethods();
-        $decoder->shouldReceive('decode')->with('input string')->andThrow(DecoderException::class);
+        $decoder->shouldReceive('decode')->with('test input')->andThrow(DecoderException::class);
 
         $this->expectException(DecoderException::class);
         $this->expectExceptionMessage('Unable to decode given input.');
 
-        $decoder->handle('input string');
+        $decoder->handle('test input');
     }
 
     public function testHandleFailWithSuccessor(): void
     {
+        $result = Mockery::mock(ColorInterface::class);
         $successor = Mockery::mock(AbstractDecoder::class)->makePartial();
-        $successor->shouldReceive('decode')->with('input string')->andReturn(null);
+        $successor->shouldReceive('decode')->with('test input')->andReturn($result);
 
-        $decoder = Mockery::mock(AbstractDecoder::class, [$successor])->makePartial()->shouldAllowMockingProtectedMethods();
-        $decoder->shouldReceive('decode')->with('input string')->andThrow(DecoderException::class);
+        $decoder = Mockery::mock(
+            AbstractDecoder::class,
+            [$successor]
+        )->makePartial()->shouldAllowMockingProtectedMethods();
+        $decoder->shouldReceive('decode')->with('test input')->andThrow(DecoderException::class);
 
-        $decoder->handle('input string');
+        $decoder->handle('test input');
     }
 }