diff --git a/execution/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/scope/SimpleStepContextTests.java b/execution/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/scope/SimpleStepContextTests.java
index cd67c2b1a..bcc97b495 100644
--- a/execution/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/scope/SimpleStepContextTests.java
+++ b/execution/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/execution/scope/SimpleStepContextTests.java
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ public class SimpleStepContextTests extends TestCase {
 			}
 		});
 		context.close();
-		assertEquals(0, list.size());
+		// Yes the callback should be called even if the attribute is missing - for inner beans
+		assertEquals(1, list.size());
 	}
 
 	/**