diff --git a/addons/hr_recruitment/hr_recruitment.py b/addons/hr_recruitment/hr_recruitment.py
index 85e447eb919..249da909119 100644
--- a/addons/hr_recruitment/hr_recruitment.py
+++ b/addons/hr_recruitment/hr_recruitment.py
@@ -185,13 +185,13 @@ class hr_applicant(crm.crm_case, osv.osv):
             return {'value': result}
         return {'value': {'department_id': False}}
 
-    def onchange_department_id(self,cr, uid, ids, department_id=False, context=None):
-        obj_recu_stage = self.pool.get('hr.recruitment.stage')
-        if department_id:
-            stage_ids = obj_recu_stage.search(cr, uid, ['|',('department_id','=',department_id),('department_id','=',False)], context=context)
-            if stage_ids:
-                return {'value': {'stage_id': stage_ids[0]}}
-        return {'value': {'stage_id': False}}
+    def onchange_department_id(self, cr, uid, ids, department_id=False, context=None):
+        if not department_id:
+            return {'value': {'stage_id': False}}
+        obj_recru_stage = self.pool.get('hr.recruitment.stage')
+        stage_ids = obj_recru_stage.search(cr, uid, ['|',('department_id','=',department_id),('department_id','=',False)], context=context)
+        stage_id = stage_ids and stage_ids[0] or False
+        return {'value': {'stage_id': stage_id}}
 
     def stage_previous(self, cr, uid, ids, context=None):
         """This function computes previous stage for case from its current stage