diff --git a/httpclient5/src/main/java/org/apache/hc/client5/http/impl/sync/MinimalClientExec.java b/httpclient5/src/main/java/org/apache/hc/client5/http/impl/sync/MinimalClientExec.java
index 4b9962a4c..fe33dc549 100644
--- a/httpclient5/src/main/java/org/apache/hc/client5/http/impl/sync/MinimalClientExec.java
+++ b/httpclient5/src/main/java/org/apache/hc/client5/http/impl/sync/MinimalClientExec.java
@@ -145,9 +145,8 @@ public class MinimalClientExec implements ClientExecChain {
             if (execAware.isAborted()) {
                 connRequest.cancel();
                 throw new RequestAbortedException("Request aborted");
-            } else {
-                execAware.setCancellable(connRequest);
             }
+            execAware.setCancellable(connRequest);
         }
 
         final RequestConfig config = context.getRequestConfig();
@@ -228,9 +227,8 @@ public class MinimalClientExec implements ClientExecChain {
                 // connection not needed and (assumed to be) in re-usable state
                 releaseTrigger.releaseConnection();
                 return new HttpResponseProxy(response, null);
-            } else {
-                return new HttpResponseProxy(response, releaseTrigger);
             }
+            return new HttpResponseProxy(response, releaseTrigger);
         } catch (final ConnectionShutdownException ex) {
             final InterruptedIOException ioex = new InterruptedIOException(
                     "Connection has been shut down");