diff --git a/maven-compat/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/repository/metadata/MetadataGraphVertex.java b/maven-compat/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/repository/metadata/MetadataGraphVertex.java
index 202a01f16d..bdccf6a5c0 100644
--- a/maven-compat/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/repository/metadata/MetadataGraphVertex.java
+++ b/maven-compat/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/repository/metadata/MetadataGraphVertex.java
@@ -94,12 +94,12 @@ private static int compareStrings( String s1, String s2 )
             return 0;
         }
 
-        if ( s1 == null && s2 != null )
+        if ( s1 == null /* && s2 != null */ )
         {
             return -1;
         }
 
-        if ( s1 != null && s2 == null )
+        if ( /* s1 != null && */ s2 == null )
         {
             return 1;
         }