diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/util/BackgroundTask.java b/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/util/BackgroundTask.java
index 2b9e7b65d2a..a6db2797cf1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/util/BackgroundTask.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/util/BackgroundTask.java
@@ -257,11 +257,8 @@ public BackgroundTask<V> withInitialMessage(String message) {
         return this;
     }
 
-    public static Node getIcon(Object task) {
-        if (task instanceof Task) {
-            return BackgroundTask.iconMap.getOrDefault(((Task<?>) task).getTitle(), null);
-        }
-        return null;
+    public static <T> Node getIcon(Task<T> task) {
+        return BackgroundTask.iconMap.getOrDefault(task).getTitle(), null);
     }
 
     static class BackgroundProgress {