diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/lang3/reflect/InheritanceUtils.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/lang3/reflect/InheritanceUtils.java
index 45cc2a9ea..4f97f98b7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/lang3/reflect/InheritanceUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/lang3/reflect/InheritanceUtils.java
@@ -60,9 +60,8 @@ public static int distance(final Class<?> child, final Class<?> parent) {
 
         if (d == 1) {
             return d;
-        } else {
-            d += distance(cParent, parent);
-            return d > 0 ? d + 1 : -1;
         }
+        d += distance(cParent, parent);
+        return d > 0 ? d + 1 : -1;
     }
 }