diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/database/JdbcCursorItemReader.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/database/JdbcCursorItemReader.java
index 9d7aa0f79..7d9e2de3d 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/database/JdbcCursorItemReader.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/database/JdbcCursorItemReader.java
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@ public class JdbcCursorItemReader<T> extends AbstractItemCountingItemStreamItemR
 
 	private boolean driverSupportsAbsolute = false;
 
+	private boolean participateInExistingTransaction = false;
+
 	public JdbcCursorItemReader() {
 		setName(ClassUtils.getShortName(JdbcCursorItemReader.class));
 	}
@@ -171,7 +173,12 @@ public class JdbcCursorItemReader<T> extends AbstractItemCountingItemStreamItemR
 		Assert.state(dataSource != null, "DataSource must not be null.");
 
 		try {
-			this.con = DataSourceUtils.getConnection(dataSource);
+			if (participateInExistingTransaction) {
+				this.con = DataSourceUtils.getConnection(dataSource);
+			}
+			else {
+				this.con = dataSource.getConnection();
+			}
 			preparedStatement = this.con.prepareStatement(sql, ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY, ResultSet.CONCUR_READ_ONLY,
 					ResultSet.HOLD_CURSORS_OVER_COMMIT);
 			applyStatementSettings(preparedStatement);
@@ -377,6 +384,19 @@ public class JdbcCursorItemReader<T> extends AbstractItemCountingItemStreamItemR
 		this.driverSupportsAbsolute = driverSupportsAbsolute;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Indicate whether the cursor should be opened as part of an existing transaction or if it
+	 * should be opened in its own transaction. The default is for the cursor to be opened in its
+	 * own transaction. If you set this flag to true then you should wrap the DataSource in a
+	 * {@link org.springframework.jdbc.datasource.SingleConnectionDataSource} to prevent the
+	 * connection from being closed after each commit.
+	 *
+	 * @param participateInExistingTransaction <code>false</code> by default
+	 */
+	public void setParticipateInExistingTransaction(boolean participateInExistingTransaction) {
+		this.participateInExistingTransaction = participateInExistingTransaction;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Check the result set is in synch with the currentRow attribute. This is
 	 * important to ensure that the user hasn't modified the current row.
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/database/JdbcCursorItemReaderConfigTests.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/database/JdbcCursorItemReaderConfigTests.java
index e7b08b24f..e819bc2d3 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/database/JdbcCursorItemReaderConfigTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/database/JdbcCursorItemReaderConfigTests.java
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ public class JdbcCursorItemReaderConfigTests {
 	 */
 	@Test
 	public void testUsesCurrentTransaction() throws Exception {
+
+	}
+	
+	/*
+	 * Should fail if trying to call getConnection() twice
+	 */
+	@Test
+	public void testUsesItsOwnTransaction() throws Exception {
 		
 		DataSource ds = createMock(DataSource.class);
 		Connection con = createMock(Connection.class);
@@ -34,6 +42,7 @@ public class JdbcCursorItemReaderConfigTests {
 		expect(con.prepareStatement("select foo from bar", ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY, ResultSet.CONCUR_READ_ONLY,
 				ResultSet.HOLD_CURSORS_OVER_COMMIT)).andReturn(ps);
 		expect(ds.getConnection()).andReturn(con);
+		expect(ds.getConnection()).andReturn(con);
 		con.commit();
 		replay(con);
 		replay(ds);