diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/identifier/HandleIdentifierProvider.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/identifier/HandleIdentifierProvider.java
index 59a1e13a216..82358362da8 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/identifier/HandleIdentifierProvider.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/identifier/HandleIdentifierProvider.java
@@ -68,10 +68,9 @@ public String register(Context context, DSpaceObject dso) {
         try {
             String id = mint(context, dso);
 
-            // move canonical to point the latest version
+            // Populate metadata
             if (dso instanceof Item || dso instanceof Collection || dso instanceof Community) {
-                Item item = (Item) dso;
-                populateHandleMetadata(context, item, id);
+                populateHandleMetadata(context, dso, id);
             }
 
             return id;
diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/identifier/VersionedHandleIdentifierProviderWithCanonicalHandles.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/identifier/VersionedHandleIdentifierProviderWithCanonicalHandles.java
index e6a092c4728..9993f78b4dd 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/identifier/VersionedHandleIdentifierProviderWithCanonicalHandles.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/identifier/VersionedHandleIdentifierProviderWithCanonicalHandles.java
@@ -95,11 +95,11 @@ public String register(Context context, DSpaceObject dso) {
         String id = mint(context, dso);
 
         // move canonical to point the latest version
-        if (dso != null && dso.getType() == Constants.ITEM) {
+        if (dso.getType() == Constants.ITEM && dso instanceof Item) {
             Item item = (Item) dso;
-            VersionHistory history = null;
+            VersionHistory history;
             try {
-                history = versionHistoryService.findByItem(context, (Item) dso);
+                history = versionHistoryService.findByItem(context, item);
             } catch (SQLException ex) {
                 throw new RuntimeException("A problem with the database connection occured.", ex);
             }