diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstanceProperties.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstanceProperties.java
index ea54c107d..0607fe6bd 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstanceProperties.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstanceProperties.java
@@ -168,6 +168,10 @@ public class JobInstanceProperties {
 		return tempMap;
 	}
 	
+	public boolean isEmtpy(){
+		return dateMap.isEmpty() && longMap.isEmpty() && stringMap.isEmpty();
+	}
+	
 	public boolean equals(Object obj) {
 	
 		if(obj instanceof JobInstanceProperties == false){
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstancePropertiesTests.java b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstancePropertiesTests.java
index 0531a486b..773098b80 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstancePropertiesTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstancePropertiesTests.java
@@ -152,6 +152,15 @@ public class JobInstancePropertiesTests extends TestCase {
 		
 		assertEquals(string1, string2);
 	}
+	
+	public void testIsEmpty(){
+		
+		JobInstanceProperties props = new JobInstanceProperties();
+		assertTrue(props.isEmtpy());
+		
+		props = new JobInstancePropertiesBuilder().addString("test", "test").toJobParameters();
+		assertFalse(props.isEmtpy());
+	}
 
 // Not sure how to properly test this since there is no order garuntee, commenting out for now.	
 //