diff --git a/spring-batch-integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchRequestHandler.java b/spring-batch-integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchRequestHandler.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ea64a4c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-batch-integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchRequestHandler.java
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2006-2010 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.batch.integration.launch;
+
+import org.springframework.batch.core.JobExecution;
+
+/**
+ * Interface for handling a {@link JobLaunchRequest} and returning a {@link JobExecution}.
+ * @author Dave Syer
+ *
+ */
+public interface JobLaunchRequestHandler {
+
+	JobExecution launch(JobLaunchRequest request);
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spring-batch-integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchingMessageHandler.java b/spring-batch-integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchingMessageHandler.java
index ca02f07c8..484cd63f3 100644
--- a/spring-batch-integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchingMessageHandler.java
+++ b/spring-batch-integration/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchingMessageHandler.java
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import org.springframework.integration.annotation.ServiceActivator;
  * @author Dave Syer
  * 
  */
-public class JobLaunchingMessageHandler {
+public class JobLaunchingMessageHandler implements JobLaunchRequestHandler {
 
 	private final JobLauncher jobLauncher;
 
diff --git a/spring-batch-integration/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchingMessageHandlerTests.java b/spring-batch-integration/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchingMessageHandlerTests.java
index 6674e2d34..9ab9e3783 100644
--- a/spring-batch-integration/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchingMessageHandlerTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-integration/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/integration/launch/JobLaunchingMessageHandlerTests.java
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import org.springframework.test.context.junit4.AbstractJUnit4SpringContextTests;
 @ContextConfiguration(locations = { "/job-execution-context.xml" })
 public class JobLaunchingMessageHandlerTests extends AbstractJUnit4SpringContextTests {
 	
-	JobLaunchingMessageHandler messageHandler;
+	JobLaunchRequestHandler messageHandler;
 
 	StubJobLauncher jobLauncher;