diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/StepContribution.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/StepContribution.java
index 1779c52c8..1517ec88f 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/StepContribution.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/StepContribution.java
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public class StepContribution {
 	private ExecutionContext executionContext;
 
 	private int commitCount;
-	
+
 	private int skipCount;
 
 	/**
@@ -98,12 +98,25 @@ public class StepContribution {
 	public boolean isTerminateOnly() {
 		return execution.isTerminateOnly();
 	}
-	
-	public int getSkipCount() {
+
+	/**
+	 * @return the sum of skips accumulated in the parent {@link StepExecution}
+	 * and this <code>StepContribution</code>.
+	 */
+	public int getStepSkipCount() {
 		return skipCount + execution.getSkipCount();
 	}
-	
-	public void incrementSkipCount(){
+
+	/**
+	 * @return the number of skips collected in this
+	 * <code>StepContribution</code> (not including skips accumulated in the
+	 * parent {@link StepExecution}.
+	 */
+	public int getContributionSkipCount() {
+		return skipCount;
+	}
+
+	public void incrementSkipCount() {
 		skipCount++;
 	}
 
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/StepExecution.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/StepExecution.java
index bbba651b5..c0a29154f 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/StepExecution.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/StepExecution.java
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ public class StepExecution extends Entity {
 		// TODO: this should not be necessary - the step decides
 		// executionContext = contribution.getExecutionContext();
 		commitCount += contribution.getCommitCount();
-		skipCount += contribution.getSkipCount();
+		skipCount += contribution.getContributionSkipCount();
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/ItemSkipPolicyItemHandler.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/ItemSkipPolicyItemHandler.java
index c985df50c..0322bc5db 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/ItemSkipPolicyItemHandler.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/item/ItemSkipPolicyItemHandler.java
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public class ItemSkipPolicyItemHandler extends SimpleItemHandler {
 			return getItemReader().read();
 		}
 		catch (Exception e) {
-			if (itemSkipPolicy.shouldSkip(e, contribution.getSkipCount())) {
+			if (itemSkipPolicy.shouldSkip(e, contribution.getStepSkipCount())) {
 				contribution.incrementSkipCount();
 				if (getItemReader() instanceof Skippable) {
 					((Skippable) getItemReader()).skip();
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public class ItemSkipPolicyItemHandler extends SimpleItemHandler {
 			getItemWriter().write(item);
 		}
 		catch (Exception e) {
-			if (itemSkipPolicy.shouldSkip(e, contribution.getSkipCount())) {
+			if (itemSkipPolicy.shouldSkip(e, contribution.getStepSkipCount())) {
 				contribution.incrementSkipCount();
 				if (getItemReader() instanceof Skippable) {
 					((Skippable) getItemReader()).skip();