diff --git a/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/graph/IntegrationNode.java b/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/graph/IntegrationNode.java
index da9d13f913..1c08da38a5 100644
--- a/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/graph/IntegrationNode.java
+++ b/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/graph/IntegrationNode.java
@@ -109,14 +109,12 @@ public abstract class IntegrationNode {
 
 	public static class Stats {
 
-		private static final String deprecated = "stats are deprecated in favor of sendTimers and receiveCounters";
-
 		protected boolean isAvailable() {
 			return false;
 		}
 
 		public String getDeprecated() {
-			return deprecated;
+			return "stats are deprecated in favor of sendTimers and receiveCounters";
 		}
 
 	}