diff --git a/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/suppression/SuppressionHandler.java b/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/suppression/SuppressionHandler.java
index 8f4669bbf..ddb414e6f 100644
--- a/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/suppression/SuppressionHandler.java
+++ b/dependency-check-core/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/suppression/SuppressionHandler.java
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public class SuppressionHandler extends DefaultHandler {
     /**
      * A list of suppression rules.
      */
-    private List<SuppressionRule> suppressionRules = new ArrayList<SuppressionRule>();
+    private final List<SuppressionRule> suppressionRules = new ArrayList<SuppressionRule>();
 
     /**
      * Get the value of suppressionRules.