diff --git a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/groovy/vmplugin/v9/Java9.java b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/groovy/vmplugin/v9/Java9.java
index bbf56de..9dcadb7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/groovy/vmplugin/v9/Java9.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/groovy/vmplugin/v9/Java9.java
@@ -229,14 +229,12 @@
             }
 
             return metaMethod;
-        }
-
-        // if caller can not access the method,
-        // try to find the corresponding method in its derived class
-        // GROOVY-9081 Sub-class derives the protected members from public class, "Invoke the members on the sub class instances"
-        // e.g. StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(); sb.setLength(0);
-        // `setLength` is the method of `AbstractStringBuilder`, which is `package-private`
-        if (declaringClass.isAssignableFrom(theClass)) {
+        } else if (declaringClass.isAssignableFrom(theClass)) {
+            // if caller can not access the method,
+            // try to find the corresponding method in its derived class
+            // GROOVY-9081 Sub-class derives the protected members from public class, "Invoke the members on the sub class instances"
+            // e.g. StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(); sb.setLength(0);
+            // `setLength` is the method of `AbstractStringBuilder`, which is `package-private`
             Optional<CachedMethod> optionalMetaMethod = getAccessibleMetaMethod(metaMethod, params, caller, theClass);
             if (optionalMetaMethod.isPresent()) {
                 return optionalMetaMethod.get();