diff --git a/icu4j/main/translit/src/main/java/com/ibm/icu/text/TransliteratorRegistry.java b/icu4j/main/translit/src/main/java/com/ibm/icu/text/TransliteratorRegistry.java
index aa6b9761ffd..aa5509503a9 100644
--- a/icu4j/main/translit/src/main/java/com/ibm/icu/text/TransliteratorRegistry.java
+++ b/icu4j/main/translit/src/main/java/com/ibm/icu/text/TransliteratorRegistry.java
@@ -247,9 +247,8 @@ class TransliteratorRegistry {
                     return resource;
                 }
 
-                String str = resourceSupplier.get();
-                resource = str;
-                return str;
+                resource = resourceSupplier.get();
+                return resource;
             }
         }
     }