diff --git a/enterprise/core-edge/src/main/java/org/neo4j/coreedge/handlers/ExceptionLoggingHandler.java b/enterprise/core-edge/src/main/java/org/neo4j/coreedge/handlers/ExceptionLoggingHandler.java
index 8bd4b8c1ad39..4d5eb643e563 100644
--- a/enterprise/core-edge/src/main/java/org/neo4j/coreedge/handlers/ExceptionLoggingHandler.java
+++ b/enterprise/core-edge/src/main/java/org/neo4j/coreedge/handlers/ExceptionLoggingHandler.java
@@ -38,14 +38,13 @@ public ExceptionLoggingHandler( Log log )
     @Override
     public void exceptionCaught( ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Throwable cause ) throws Exception
     {
-        if ( ctx != null )
-        {
-            log.error( format( "Failed to process message on channel %s.", ctx.channel() ), cause );
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            log.error( format( "Failed to process message on a null channel." ), cause );
-        }
-        ctx.fireExceptionCaught(cause);
+        log.error( message( ctx ), cause );
+        ctx.fireExceptionCaught( cause );
+    }
+
+    private String message( ChannelHandlerContext ctx )
+    {
+        return ctx != null ? format( "Failed to process message on channel %s.", ctx.channel() )
+                           : "Failed to process message on a null channel.";
     }
 }