diff --git a/artemis-protocols/artemis-openwire-protocol/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/protocol/openwire/OpenWireMessageConverter.java b/artemis-protocols/artemis-openwire-protocol/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/protocol/openwire/OpenWireMessageConverter.java
index d52b211e53..ce94ee2d32 100644
--- a/artemis-protocols/artemis-openwire-protocol/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/protocol/openwire/OpenWireMessageConverter.java
+++ b/artemis-protocols/artemis-openwire-protocol/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/protocol/openwire/OpenWireMessageConverter.java
@@ -647,9 +647,10 @@ public class OpenWireMessageConverter implements MessageConverter
          amqMsg.setDestination(dest);
       }
 
-      String groupId = (String) coreMessage.getObjectProperty(AMQ_MSG_GROUP_ID);
-      if (groupId != null)
+      Object value = coreMessage.getObjectProperty(AMQ_MSG_GROUP_ID);
+      if (value != null)
       {
+         String groupId = value.toString();
          amqMsg.setGroupID(groupId);
       }