diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/trie/AbstractPatriciaTrie.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/trie/AbstractPatriciaTrie.java
index c92c4f307..175d8ee01 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/trie/AbstractPatriciaTrie.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/trie/AbstractPatriciaTrie.java
@@ -782,9 +782,8 @@ abstract class AbstractPatriciaTrie<K, V> extends AbstractBitwiseTrie<K, V> {
     public K firstKey() {
         if (size() == 0) {
             throw new NoSuchElementException();
-        } else {
-            return firstEntry().getKey();
         }
+        return firstEntry().getKey();
     }
 
     public K lastKey() {