diff --git a/runtime/compiler/env/j9method.cpp b/runtime/compiler/env/j9method.cpp
index 4998b07c35b..c56da934e22 100644
--- a/runtime/compiler/env/j9method.cpp
+++ b/runtime/compiler/env/j9method.cpp
@@ -8516,31 +8516,29 @@ TR_J9ByteCodeIlGenerator::walkReferenceChain(TR::Node *node, uintptrj_t receiver
    {
    TR_J9VMBase *fej9 = (TR_J9VMBase *)(comp()->fe());
    uintptrj_t result = 0;
-   switch (node->getOpCodeValue())
+   if (node->getOpCode().isLoadDirect() && node->getType() == TR::Address)
       {
-      case TR::aload:
-         TR_ASSERT(node->getSymbolReference()->getCPIndex() == 0, "walkReferenceChain expecting aload of 'this'; found aload of %s", comp()->getDebug()->getName(node->getSymbolReference()));
-         result = receiver;
-         break;
-      case TR::aloadi:
+      TR_ASSERT(node->getSymbolReference()->getCPIndex() == 0, "walkReferenceChain expecting aload of 'this'; found aload of %s", comp()->getDebug()->getName(node->getSymbolReference()));
+      result = receiver;
+      }
+   else if (node->getOpCode().isLoadIndirect() && node->getType() == TR::Address)
+      {
+      TR::SymbolReference *symRef = node->getSymbolReference();
+      if (symRef->isUnresolved())
          {
-         TR::SymbolReference *symRef = node->getSymbolReference();
-         if (symRef->isUnresolved())
-            {
-            if (comp()->getOption(TR_TraceILGen))
-               traceMsg(comp(), "  walkReferenceChain hit unresolved symref %s; aborting\n", symRef->getName(comp()->getDebug()));
-            comp()->failCompilation<TR::ILGenFailure>("Symbol reference is unresolved");
-            }
-         TR::Symbol *sym = symRef->getSymbol();
-         TR_ASSERT(sym->isShadow() && symRef->getCPIndex() > 0, "walkReferenceChain expecting field load; found load of %s", comp()->getDebug()->getName(symRef));
-         uintptrj_t fieldOffset = symRef->getOffset() - sizeof(J9Object); // blah
-         result = fej9->getReferenceFieldAt(walkReferenceChain(node->getFirstChild(), receiver), fieldOffset);
+         if (comp()->getOption(TR_TraceILGen))
+            traceMsg(comp(), "  walkReferenceChain hit unresolved symref %s; aborting\n", symRef->getName(comp()->getDebug()));
+         comp()->failCompilation<TR::ILGenFailure>("Symbol reference is unresolved");
          }
-         break;
-      default:
-         TR_ASSERT(0, "Unexpected opcode in walkReferenceChain: %s", node->getOpCode().getName());
-         comp()->failCompilation<TR::ILGenFailure>("Unexpected opcode in walkReferenceChain");
-         break;
+      TR::Symbol *sym = symRef->getSymbol();
+      TR_ASSERT(sym->isShadow() && symRef->getCPIndex() > 0, "walkReferenceChain expecting field load; found load of %s", comp()->getDebug()->getName(symRef));
+      uintptrj_t fieldOffset = symRef->getOffset() - sizeof(J9Object); // blah
+      result = fej9->getReferenceFieldAt(walkReferenceChain(node->getFirstChild(), receiver), fieldOffset);
+      }
+   else
+      {
+      TR_ASSERT(0, "Unexpected opcode in walkReferenceChain: %s", node->getOpCode().getName());
+      comp()->failCompilation<TR::ILGenFailure>("Unexpected opcode in walkReferenceChain");
       }
 
    if (comp()->getOption(TR_TraceILGen))