diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/CollectionServiceImpl.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/CollectionServiceImpl.java
index 2edcfe3e4f..3e2286a457 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/CollectionServiceImpl.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/CollectionServiceImpl.java
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ public class CollectionServiceImpl extends DSpaceObjectServiceImpl<Collection> i
                 collection.setWorkflowStep3(group);
                 break;
             default:
-                new IllegalAccessException("Illegal step count: " + step);
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Illegal step count: " + step);
         }
     }