diff --git a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/optimizations/UseStringBufferForStringAppendsRule.java b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/optimizations/UseStringBufferForStringAppendsRule.java
index a3a96a556b..401936593d 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/optimizations/UseStringBufferForStringAppendsRule.java
+++ b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/optimizations/UseStringBufferForStringAppendsRule.java
@@ -58,10 +58,7 @@ public class UseStringBufferForStringAppendsRule extends AbstractJavaRule {
                             addViolation(data, assignmentOperator);
                         }
                     } else if(astName.getImage().equals(name.getImage())){
-                        ASTAssignmentOperator assignmentOperator = statement.getFirstDescendantOfType(ASTAssignmentOperator.class);
-                        if (astName.jjtGetParent().jjtGetParent().jjtGetParent().getClass() == ASTEqualityExpression.class) {
-                        	continue;
-                        }                       
+                        ASTAssignmentOperator assignmentOperator = statement.getFirstDescendantOfType(ASTAssignmentOperator.class);            
                         if (assignmentOperator != null && !assignmentOperator.isCompound()) {
                             addViolation(data, astName);
                         }