diff --git a/openjpa-persistence/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/persistence/XMLPersistenceMetaDataParser.java b/openjpa-persistence/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/persistence/XMLPersistenceMetaDataParser.java
index 473637f96..68017c6bb 100644
--- a/openjpa-persistence/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/persistence/XMLPersistenceMetaDataParser.java
+++ b/openjpa-persistence/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/persistence/XMLPersistenceMetaDataParser.java
@@ -1229,10 +1229,8 @@ public class XMLPersistenceMetaDataParser
             return;
 
         ValueMetaData vmd = fmd;
-        switch (_strategy) {
-            case ONE_MANY:
-            case MANY_MANY:
-                vmd = fmd.getElement();
+        if (_strategy == ONE_MANY || _strategy == MANY_MANY) {
+            vmd = fmd.getElement();
         }
         for (CascadeType cascade : cascades) {
             switch (cascade) {