diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/ExecutionContext.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/ExecutionContext.java
index 03014bf7f..0cc674dc1 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/ExecutionContext.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/ExecutionContext.java
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ public class ExecutionContext {
 
 	public void putString(String key, String value) {
 
-		Assert.notNull(value);
 		put(key, value);
 	}