diff --git a/java/ql/src/Telemetry/ExternalAPI.qll b/java/ql/src/Telemetry/ExternalAPI.qll
index c1787ee1f39..b665bbb7fec 100644
--- a/java/ql/src/Telemetry/ExternalAPI.qll
+++ b/java/ql/src/Telemetry/ExternalAPI.qll
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ class ExternalAPI extends Callable {
 
   predicate isInteresting() {
     getNumberOfParameters() > 0 and
-    not (
-      getReturnType() instanceof VoidType or
-      getReturnType() instanceof PrimitiveType or
-      getReturnType() instanceof BoxedType
+    exists(Type retType | retType = getReturnType() |
+      not retType instanceof VoidType and
+      not retType instanceof PrimitiveType and
+      not retType instanceof BoxedType
     )
   }