diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/SpringValidator.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/SpringValidator.java
index 28c3eaacf..086c2537d 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/SpringValidator.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/SpringValidator.java
@@ -30,14 +30,14 @@ import org.springframework.validation.Errors;
  * @author Tomas Slanina
  * @author Robert Kasanicky
  */
-public class SpringValidator implements Validator, InitializingBean {
+public class SpringValidator<T> implements Validator<T>, InitializingBean {
 
 	private org.springframework.validation.Validator validator;
 
 	/**
 	 * @see Validator#validate(Object)
 	 */
-	public void validate(Object item) throws ValidationException {
+	public void validate(T item) throws ValidationException {
 
 		if (!validator.supports(item.getClass())) {
 			throw new ValidationException("Validation failed for " + item + ": " + item.getClass().getName()
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/ValidatingItemProcessor.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/ValidatingItemProcessor.java
index dc1e8fa67..66d2d4376 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/ValidatingItemProcessor.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/ValidatingItemProcessor.java
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ import org.springframework.util.Assert;
  */
 public class ValidatingItemProcessor<T> implements ItemProcessor<T, T> {
 
-	private Validator validator;
+	private Validator<? super T> validator;
 	
-	public ValidatingItemProcessor(Validator validator){
+	public ValidatingItemProcessor(Validator<? super T> validator){
 		Assert.notNull(validator, "Validator must not be null.");
 		this.validator = validator;
 	}
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public class ValidatingItemProcessor<T> implements ItemProcessor<T, T> {
 	 * 
 	 * @param validator
 	 */
-	public void setValidator(Validator validator) {
+	public void setValidator(Validator<? super T> validator) {
 		this.validator = validator;
 	}
 
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/Validator.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/Validator.java
index dafcbb98e..167fa0cc7 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/Validator.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/Validator.java
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@ package org.springframework.batch.item.validator;
  * @author tomas.slanina
  * 
  */
-public interface Validator {
+public interface Validator<T> {
 	/**
 	 * Method used to validate if the value is valid.
 	 * 
 	 * @param value object to be validated
 	 * @throws ValidationException if value is not valid.
 	 */
-	void validate(Object value) throws ValidationException;
+	void validate(T value) throws ValidationException;
 }
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/ValidatingItemProcessorTests.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/ValidatingItemProcessorTests.java
index 473436d9d..de5f549b6 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/ValidatingItemProcessorTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/validator/ValidatingItemProcessorTests.java
@@ -1,15 +1,20 @@
 package org.springframework.batch.item.validator;
 
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.createMock;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.expectLastCall;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.replay;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.verify;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertSame;
+
 import org.junit.Test;
-import static org.junit.Assert.*;
-import static org.easymock.EasyMock.*;
 
 /**
  * Tests for {@link ValidatingItemProcessor}.
  */
 public class ValidatingItemProcessorTests {
 
-	private Validator validator = createMock(Validator.class);
+	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+	private Validator<String> validator = createMock(Validator.class);
 	
 	private ValidatingItemProcessor<String> tested = new ValidatingItemProcessor<String>(validator);