diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/acl/basic/NamedEntityObjectIdentity.java b/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/acl/basic/NamedEntityObjectIdentity.java
index b38e265387..edf32a8eed 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/acl/basic/NamedEntityObjectIdentity.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/acl/basic/NamedEntityObjectIdentity.java
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@ import java.lang.reflect.Method;
  * instance. Also offers a constructor that uses reflection to build the
  * identity information.
  * </p>
- *
- * @author Ben Alex
- * @version $Id$
  */
 public class NamedEntityObjectIdentity implements AclObjectIdentity {
     //~ Instance fields ========================================================
@@ -42,18 +39,16 @@ public class NamedEntityObjectIdentity implements AclObjectIdentity {
     //~ Constructors ===========================================================
 
     public NamedEntityObjectIdentity(String classname, String id) {
-        if ((classname == null) || "".equals(classname)) {
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("classname required");
-        }
-
-        if ((id == null) || "".equals(id)) {
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("id required");
-        }
-
+        Assert.hasText(classname, "classname required");
+        Assert.hasText(id, "id required");
         this.classname = classname;
         this.id = id;
     }
 
+    protected NamedEntityObjectIdentity() {
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Cannot use default constructor");
+    }
+
     /**
      * Creates the <code>NamedEntityObjectIdentity</code> based on the passed
      * object instance. The passed object must provide a <code>getId()</code>
@@ -83,30 +78,8 @@ public class NamedEntityObjectIdentity implements AclObjectIdentity {
         }
     }
 
-    protected NamedEntityObjectIdentity() {
-        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Cannot use default constructor");
-    }
-
     //~ Methods ================================================================
 
-    /**
-     * Indicates the classname portion of the object identity.
-     *
-     * @return the classname (never <code>null</code>)
-     */
-    public String getClassname() {
-        return classname;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Indicates the instance identity portion of the object identity.
-     *
-     * @return the instance identity (never <code>null</code>)
-     */
-    public String getId() {
-        return id;
-    }
-
     /**
      * Important so caching operates properly.
      * 
@@ -138,6 +111,24 @@ public class NamedEntityObjectIdentity implements AclObjectIdentity {
         return false;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates the classname portion of the object identity.
+     *
+     * @return the classname (never <code>null</code>)
+     */
+    public String getClassname() {
+        return classname;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Indicates the instance identity portion of the object identity.
+     *
+     * @return the instance identity (never <code>null</code>)
+     */
+    public String getId() {
+        return id;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Important so caching operates properly.
      *