diff --git a/spring-batch-execution/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/tasklet/ItemOrientedTasklet.java b/spring-batch-execution/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/tasklet/ItemOrientedTasklet.java
index 8e70312f3..883fea698 100644
--- a/spring-batch-execution/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/tasklet/ItemOrientedTasklet.java
+++ b/spring-batch-execution/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/tasklet/ItemOrientedTasklet.java
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ public class ItemOrientedTasklet implements Tasklet, Skippable, InitializingBean
 	 */
 	public void afterPropertiesSet() throws Exception {
 		Assert.notNull(itemProvider, "ItemReader must be provided");
-		Assert.notNull(itemWriter, "ItemProcessor must be provided");
+		Assert.notNull(itemWriter, "ItemWriter must be provided");
 
 		if (itemRecoverer == null && (itemProvider instanceof ItemRecoverer)) {
 			itemRecoverer = (ItemRecoverer) itemProvider;
diff --git a/spring-batch-execution/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/tasklet/ItemOrientedTaskletTests.java b/spring-batch-execution/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/tasklet/ItemOrientedTaskletTests.java
index 54c5fffe9..77bb1401b 100644
--- a/spring-batch-execution/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/tasklet/ItemOrientedTaskletTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-execution/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/tasklet/ItemOrientedTaskletTests.java
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ public class ItemOrientedTaskletTests extends TestCase {
 		try {
 			module.afterPropertiesSet();
 		} catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
-			assertTrue(e.getMessage().toLowerCase().indexOf("writer") >= 0);
+			assertTrue("Message did not contain writer: "+e.getMessage(), e.getMessage().toLowerCase().indexOf("writer") >= 0);
 		}
 	}