Use final
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/validator/util/Flags.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/validator/util/Flags.java
index 4a572fa..e29a998 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/validator/util/Flags.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/validator/util/Flags.java
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
         if (!(obj instanceof Flags)) {
             return false;
         }
-        Flags other = (Flags) obj;
+        final Flags other = (Flags) obj;
         return flags == other.flags;
     }