diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/PropertyHelperTask.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/PropertyHelperTask.java
index 138fe9928..167217bb5 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/PropertyHelperTask.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/PropertyHelperTask.java
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ public class PropertyHelperTask extends Task {
         }
         PropertyHelper ph = propertyHelper;
         if (ph == null) {
-            ph = (PropertyHelper) getProject().getReference(MagicNames.REFID_PROPERTY_HELPER);
+            ph = PropertyHelper.getPropertyHelper(getProject());
         } else {
             ph = propertyHelper;
         }