diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/repository/support/MapJobRepositoryFactoryBean.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/repository/support/MapJobRepositoryFactoryBean.java
index a6c9593e9..3ec2aab18 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/repository/support/MapJobRepositoryFactoryBean.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/repository/support/MapJobRepositoryFactoryBean.java
@@ -8,12 +8,16 @@ import org.springframework.batch.core.repository.dao.MapJobExecutionDao;
 import org.springframework.batch.core.repository.dao.MapJobInstanceDao;
 import org.springframework.batch.core.repository.dao.MapStepExecutionDao;
 import org.springframework.batch.core.repository.dao.StepExecutionDao;
+import org.springframework.batch.support.transaction.ResourcelessTransactionManager;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.FactoryBean;
 
 /**
  * A {@link FactoryBean} that automates the creation of a
  * {@link SimpleJobRepository} using non-persistent in-memory DAO
- * implementations.
+ * implementations. This repository is only really intended for use in testing
+ * and rapid prototyping. In such settings you might find that
+ * {@link ResourcelessTransactionManager} is useful (as long as your business
+ * logic does not use a relational database).
  * 
  * @author Robert Kasanicky
  */
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleStepFactoryBean.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleStepFactoryBean.java
index 5cc34576d..fa0df5091 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleStepFactoryBean.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleStepFactoryBean.java
@@ -106,12 +106,12 @@ public class SimpleStepFactoryBean<T, S> implements FactoryBean, BeanNameAware {
 	private int throttleLimit = TaskExecutorRepeatTemplate.DEFAULT_THROTTLE_LIMIT;
 
 	/**
-	 * 
+	 * Default constructor for {@link SimpleStepFactoryBean}.
 	 */
 	public SimpleStepFactoryBean() {
 		super();
 	}
-
+	
 	/**
 	 * Set the bean name property, which will become the name of the
 	 * {@link Step} when it is created.
@@ -268,11 +268,12 @@ public class SimpleStepFactoryBean<T, S> implements FactoryBean, BeanNameAware {
 	/**
 	 * Create a {@link Step} from the configuration provided.
 	 * 
-	 * @see org.springframework.beans.factory.FactoryBean#getObject()
+	 * @see FactoryBean#getObject()
 	 */
 	public final Object getObject() throws Exception {
 		TaskletStep step = new TaskletStep(getName());
 		applyConfiguration(step);
+		step.afterPropertiesSet();
 		return step;
 	}
 
@@ -480,7 +481,7 @@ public class SimpleStepFactoryBean<T, S> implements FactoryBean, BeanNameAware {
 		ChunkOrientedTasklet<T> tasklet = new ChunkOrientedTasklet<T>(chunkProvider, chunkProcessor);
 
 		step.setTasklet(tasklet);
-
+		
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleStepFactoryBeanTests.java b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleStepFactoryBeanTests.java
index d57c3939c..03acf995a 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleStepFactoryBeanTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/SimpleStepFactoryBeanTests.java
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ public class SimpleStepFactoryBeanTests {
 		MapStepExecutionDao.clear();
 	}
 
+	@Test(expected=IllegalArgumentException.class)
+	public void testMandatoryProperties() throws Exception {
+		new SimpleStepFactoryBean<String, String>().getObject();
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void testSimpleJob() throws Exception {