diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/xml/InlineStepParser.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/xml/InlineStepParser.java
index 4d25143e4..140b01f01 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/xml/InlineStepParser.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/xml/InlineStepParser.java
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ public class InlineStepParser extends AbstractStepParser {
 
 		@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 		List<Element> listOfTaskElements = (List<Element>) DomUtils.getChildElementsByTagName(element, "tasklet");
+		@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+		List<Element> listOfListenersElements = (List<Element>) DomUtils.getChildElementsByTagName(element, "listeners");
+
 		if (StringUtils.hasText(stepRef)) {
 			if (StringUtils.hasText(taskletRef)) {
 				parserContext.getReaderContext().error("The 'tasklet' attribute can't be combined with the 'ref=\""+ stepRef +"\"' attribute specification for <" + element.getNodeName() + ">", element);
@@ -68,6 +71,9 @@ public class InlineStepParser extends AbstractStepParser {
 				parserContext.getReaderContext().error("The <" + listOfTaskElements.get(0).getNodeName() +
 						"> element can't be combined with the 'ref=\""+ stepRef +"\"' attribute specification for <" + element.getNodeName() + ">", element);
 			}
+			if (listOfListenersElements.size() > 0) {
+				parserContext.getReaderContext().error("The 'listeners' element can't be combined with the 'ref=\""+ stepRef +"\"' attribute specification for <" + element.getNodeName() + ">", element);
+			}
 			BeanDefinitionBuilder stepBuilder = 
 				BeanDefinitionBuilder.genericBeanDefinition("org.springframework.batch.core.configuration.xml.DelegatingStep");
 			stepBuilder.addConstructorArgValue(stepId);