diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/map/AbstractReferenceMap.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/map/AbstractReferenceMap.java
index b6863b4c28..86b4bfbcaa 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/map/AbstractReferenceMap.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/map/AbstractReferenceMap.java
@@ -356,14 +356,15 @@ public V setValue(final V value) {
          * @return the reference to the object
          */
         protected <T> Object toReference(final ReferenceStrength type, final T referent, final int hash) {
-            if (type == ReferenceStrength.HARD) {
+            switch (type) {
+            case HARD:
                 return referent;
-            }
-            if (type == ReferenceStrength.SOFT) {
+            case SOFT:
                 return new SoftRef<>(hash, referent, parent.queue);
-            }
-            if (type == ReferenceStrength.WEAK) {
+            case WEAK:
                 return new WeakRef<>(hash, referent, parent.queue);
+            default:
+                break;
             }
             throw new Error();
         }