diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/Entity.java b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/Entity.java
index d6c539912..8a4d34aad 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/Entity.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/Entity.java
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ public class Entity implements Serializable {
 	 * @see java.lang.Object#equals(java.lang.Object)
 	 */
 	public boolean equals(Object other) {
+		if (other == this) {
+			return true;
+		}
 		if (other == null) {
 			return false;
 		}