diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/xml/StepParserStepFactoryBean.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/xml/StepParserStepFactoryBean.java
index 0d3d654d6..77b4703c1 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/xml/StepParserStepFactoryBean.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/configuration/xml/StepParserStepFactoryBean.java
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ class StepParserStepFactoryBean<I, O> implements FactoryBean, BeanNameAware {
 	public boolean requiresTransactionManager() {
 		// Currently all step implementations other than TaskletStep are
 		// AbstractStep and do not require a transaction manager
-		return tasklet != null;
+		return hasChunkElement || tasklet != null;
 	}
 
 	private void configureAbstractStep(AbstractStep ts) {