diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/VerifyJar.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/VerifyJar.java
index 4cbbe2a31..187a02171 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/VerifyJar.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/VerifyJar.java
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ public class VerifyJar extends AbstractJarSignerTask {
         // So if strict is true then we hide storepass from the base
         // implementation and instead add the -storepass command line
         // argument
-        if (mustHideStorePass()) {
+        if (storepass != null) {
             savedStorePass = storepass;
             setStorepass(null);
         }
@@ -193,10 +193,6 @@ public class VerifyJar extends AbstractJarSignerTask {
         }
     }
 
-    private boolean mustHideStorePass() {
-        return strict && storepass != null;
-    }
-
     /**
      * we are not thread safe here. Do not use on multiple threads at the same time.
      */