diff --git a/prometheus-metrics-model/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/model/snapshots/Labels.java b/prometheus-metrics-model/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/model/snapshots/Labels.java
index d5c0a3a95..deb1c7f94 100644
--- a/prometheus-metrics-model/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/model/snapshots/Labels.java
+++ b/prometheus-metrics-model/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/model/snapshots/Labels.java
@@ -40,9 +40,8 @@ private Labels(String[] names, String[] prometheusNames, String[] values) {
     this.values = values;
   }
 
-  @SuppressWarnings("ReferenceEquality")
   public boolean isEmpty() {
-    return this == EMPTY || this.equals(EMPTY);
+    return this.equals(EMPTY);
   }
 
   /**