diff --git a/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/ProtobufToStringOutput.java b/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/ProtobufToStringOutput.java
index ff153c242f473..b7ad3be3e5d73 100644
--- a/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/ProtobufToStringOutput.java
+++ b/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/ProtobufToStringOutput.java
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ private enum OutputMode {
 
   private ProtobufToStringOutput() {}
 
-  @CanIgnoreReturnValue
   private static OutputMode setOutputMode(OutputMode newMode) {
     OutputMode oldMode = outputMode.get();
     outputMode.set(newMode);