diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobExecution.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobExecution.java
index bc4704586..d596700e3 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobExecution.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobExecution.java
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public class JobExecution extends Entity {
 
 	private JobInstance jobInstance;
 
-	private volatile transient Collection<StepExecution> stepExecutions = new HashSet<StepExecution>();
+	private volatile Collection<StepExecution> stepExecutions = new HashSet<StepExecution>();
 
 	private volatile BatchStatus status = BatchStatus.STARTING;
 
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobExecutionTests.java b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobExecutionTests.java
index 0db2b9a34..47ba2b425 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobExecutionTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/JobExecutionTests.java
@@ -151,7 +151,8 @@ public class JobExecutionTests extends TestCase {
 	
 	public void testSerialization() {
 		byte[] serialized = SerializationUtils.serialize(execution);
-		
-		assertEquals(execution, SerializationUtils.deserialize(serialized));
+		JobExecution deserialize = (JobExecution) SerializationUtils.deserialize(serialized);
+		assertEquals(execution, deserialize);
+		assertNotNull(deserialize.createStepExecution("foo"));
 	}
 }