diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemReader.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemReader.java
index 76fab9317..84b15e8ca 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemReader.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemReader.java
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ ResourceAwareItemReaderItemStream<T>, InitializingBean {
 	/**
 	 * In strict mode the reader will throw an exception on
 	 * {@link #open(org.springframework.batch.item.ExecutionContext)} if the input resource does not exist.
-	 * @param strict false by default
+	 * @param strict true by default
 	 */
 	public void setStrict(boolean strict) {
 		this.strict = strict;