diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/PrimaryUpdateAndCacheUtils.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/PrimaryUpdateAndCacheUtils.java
index 9c37accdc2..38cb95e8dc 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/PrimaryUpdateAndCacheUtils.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/PrimaryUpdateAndCacheUtils.java
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ public static int compareResourceVersions(String v1, String v2) {
     return 0;
   }
 
-  private static final int validateResourceVersion(String v1) {
+  private static int validateResourceVersion(String v1) {
     int v1Length = v1.length();
     if (v1Length == 0) {
       throw new NonComparableResourceVersionException("Resource version is empty");