diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleChunkProvider.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleChunkProvider.java
index 7a92205f6..11f996a5e 100755
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleChunkProvider.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleChunkProvider.java
@@ -88,7 +88,9 @@ public class SimpleChunkProvider<I> implements ChunkProvider<I> {
 		try {
 			listener.beforeRead();
 			I item = itemReader.read();
-			listener.afterRead(item);
+			if(item != null) {
+				listener.afterRead(item);
+			}
 			return item;
 		}
 		catch (Exception e) {