diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectConfig.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectConfig.java
index 03886a9..4a17b5c 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectConfig.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectConfig.java
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@
       Config rc, String section, String subsection, String varName, boolean useRange) {
     Permission.Builder perm = Permission.builder(varName);
     loadPermissionRules(rc, section, subsection, varName, perm, useRange);
-    return ImmutableList.copyOf(perm.build().getRules());
+    return perm.build().getRules();
   }
 
   private void loadPermissionRules(