diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/xml/XmlProjectDescriptionStorage.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/xml/XmlProjectDescriptionStorage.java
index eff1d04a8f0..2c355721078 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/xml/XmlProjectDescriptionStorage.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/model/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/settings/model/xml/XmlProjectDescriptionStorage.java
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ public class XmlProjectDescriptionStorage extends AbstractCProjectDescriptionSto
 			boolean released = false;
 			try {
 				// If the description is already loaded and has been modified externally, reload it
-				load |= checkExternalModification();
+				checkExternalModification();
 
 				// Acquire the (de)serializing lock
 				serializingLock.acquire();