diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/Attribute.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/Attribute.java
index 3b032e558f..54edbcb3d9 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/Attribute.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/rule/xpath/Attribute.java
@@ -106,16 +106,11 @@ public final class Attribute {
             return null;
         } else {
             DeprecatedAttribute annot = method.getAnnotation(DeprecatedAttribute.class);
-            String result = annot != null
+            return annot != null
                    ? annot.replaceWith()
                    : method.isAnnotationPresent(Deprecated.class)
                      ? DeprecatedAttribute.NO_REPLACEMENT
                      : null;
-            if (result == null && List.class.isAssignableFrom(method.getReturnType())) {
-                // Lists are generally deprecated, see #2451
-                result = DeprecatedAttribute.NO_REPLACEMENT;
-            }
-            return result;
         }
     }