diff --git a/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/generic/shared/dto/identifier/IdentifierHelper.java b/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/generic/shared/dto/identifier/IdentifierHelper.java
index aae2c8ff8faff52af5d34fa9494ddc3def584a7a..9a3a00d0251dca46160e713a2f4f8cfe51de7a20 100644
--- a/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/generic/shared/dto/identifier/IdentifierHelper.java
+++ b/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/generic/shared/dto/identifier/IdentifierHelper.java
@@ -147,16 +147,13 @@ public final class IdentifierHelper
     private static SampleIdentifier createSampleIdentifier(
             final DatabaseInstancePE databaseInstance, final SpacePE group, final String sampleCode)
     {
-        if (databaseInstance != null)
-        {
-            return new SampleIdentifier(createDatabaseInstanceIdentifier(databaseInstance),
-                    sampleCode);
-        } else if (group != null)
+        if (group != null)
         {
             return new SampleIdentifier(createGroupIdentifier(group), sampleCode);
         } else
         {
-            return SampleIdentifier.createHomeGroup(sampleCode);
+            return new SampleIdentifier(DatabaseInstanceIdentifier.createHome(),
+                    sampleCode);
         }
     }