diff --git a/logback-ecs-encoder/src/main/java/co/elastic/logging/logback/EcsEncoder.java b/logback-ecs-encoder/src/main/java/co/elastic/logging/logback/EcsEncoder.java
index 7b84519..57eaa0b 100644
--- a/logback-ecs-encoder/src/main/java/co/elastic/logging/logback/EcsEncoder.java
+++ b/logback-ecs-encoder/src/main/java/co/elastic/logging/logback/EcsEncoder.java
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ private void serializeMessage(ILoggingEvent event, StringBuilder builder) {
         if (messageLayout == null) {
             EcsJsonSerializer.serializeFormattedMessage(builder, event.getFormattedMessage());
         } else {
-            EcsJsonSerializer.serializeFormattedMessage(builder, this.messageLayout.doLayout(event));
+            EcsJsonSerializer.serializeFormattedMessage(builder, messageLayout.doLayout(event));
         }
     }