diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/validator/ValidatorAction.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/validator/ValidatorAction.java
index 6a8c26924..5c7bd0c31 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/validator/ValidatorAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/validator/ValidatorAction.java
@@ -688,8 +688,8 @@ private Object getValidationClassInstance() throws ValidatorException {
 
         } else if (this.instance == null) {
             try {
-                this.instance = this.validationClass.newInstance();
-            } catch (InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException e) {
+                this.instance = this.validationClass.getConstructor().newInstance();
+            } catch (ReflectiveOperationException e) {
                 final String msg1 =
                     "Couldn't create instance of "
                         + this.classname