diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstance.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstance.java
index 14fcd8d62..21fdc066b 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstance.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstance.java
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@ package org.springframework.batch.core.domain;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
-import org.springframework.util.Assert;
-
 
 /**
  * Batch domain object representing a job instance. A job instance is defined as
@@ -46,8 +44,7 @@ public class JobInstance extends Entity {
 	
 	public JobInstance(Long id, JobParameters jobParameters) {
 		super(id);
-		Assert.notNull(jobParameters, "JobParameters must not be null.");
-		this.jobParameters = jobParameters;
+		this.jobParameters = jobParameters==null ? new JobParameters() : jobParameters;
 	}
 
 	public JobInstance(Long id, JobParameters jobParameters, Job job){
@@ -94,7 +91,7 @@ public class JobInstance extends Entity {
 	 * @return the job name. (Equivalent to getJob().getName())
 	 */
 	public String getJobName() {
-		return getJob().getName();
+		return job==null ? null : job.getName();
 	}
 	
 	public JobExecution createJobExecution() {
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstanceTests.java b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstanceTests.java
index 84fb475e4..de7fd6ce0 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstanceTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/domain/JobInstanceTests.java
@@ -71,7 +71,12 @@ public class JobInstanceTests extends TestCase {
 	}
 	
 	public void testGetJob(){
-		
 		assertEquals("job", instance.getJob().getName());
 	}
+
+	public void testCreateWithNulls(){
+		instance = new JobInstance(null, null);
+		assertEquals(null, instance.getJobName());
+		assertEquals(0, instance.getJobParameters().getParameters().size());
+	}
 }