diff --git a/pulsar-client/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/client/impl/MessageImpl.java b/pulsar-client/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/client/impl/MessageImpl.java
index 695e849bbc7b70..cf253cf5bbc863 100644
--- a/pulsar-client/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/client/impl/MessageImpl.java
+++ b/pulsar-client/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/client/impl/MessageImpl.java
@@ -281,12 +281,11 @@ public static long getEntryTimestamp( ByteBuf headersAndPayloadWithBrokerEntryMe
         MessageImpl<byte[]> msg = (MessageImpl<byte[]>) RECYCLER.get();
         try {
             Commands.parseMessageMetadata(headersAndPayloadWithBrokerEntryMetadata, msg.msgMetadata);
-            entryTimestamp  = msg.getPublishTime();
+            return msg.getPublishTime();
         } finally {
             // make sure msg can be recycled
             msg.recycle();
         }
-        return entryTimestamp;
     }
 
     public static boolean isEntryExpired(int messageTTLInSeconds, long entryTimestamp) {