diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatus.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatus.java
index 0b0fddbd2..8146a8c55 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatus.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatus.java
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public class ExitStatus implements Serializable, Comparable<ExitStatus> {
 	public ExitStatus(String exitCode, String exitDescription) {
 		super();
 		this.exitCode = exitCode;
-		this.exitDescription = exitDescription;
+		this.exitDescription = exitDescription == null ? "" : exitDescription;
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatusTests.java b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatusTests.java
index fd82afddc..30e9ddc30 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatusTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatusTests.java
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ import org.springframework.batch.support.SerializationUtils;
  */
 public class ExitStatusTests {
 
+	@Test
+	public void testExitStatusNullDescription() {
+		ExitStatus status = new ExitStatus("10", null);
+		assertEquals("", status.getExitDescription());
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void testExitStatusBooleanInt() {
 		ExitStatus status = new ExitStatus("10");