diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatus.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatus.java
index 29e55b888..0b0fddbd2 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatus.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatus.java
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.batch.core;
 
+import java.io.PrintWriter;
 import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.io.StringWriter;
 
 import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
 
@@ -248,4 +250,18 @@ public class ExitStatus implements Serializable, Comparable<ExitStatus> {
 		return new ExitStatus(exitCode, buffer.toString());
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Extract the stack trace from the throwable provided and append it to
+	 * the exist description.
+	 * 
+	 * @param throwable
+	 * @return a new ExitStatus with the stack trace appended
+	 */
+	public ExitStatus addExitDescription(Throwable throwable) {
+		StringWriter writer = new StringWriter();
+		throwable.printStackTrace(new PrintWriter(writer));
+		String message = writer.toString();
+		return addExitDescription(message);
+	}
+
 }
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/job/AbstractJob.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/job/AbstractJob.java
index bce32b9dd..0f981902b 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/job/AbstractJob.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/job/AbstractJob.java
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
 
 package org.springframework.batch.core.job;
 
-import java.io.PrintWriter;
-import java.io.StringWriter;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Date;
 
@@ -487,10 +485,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractJob implements Job, StepLocator, BeanNameAware, In
 			exitStatus = new ExitStatus(ExitCodeMapper.NO_SUCH_JOB, ex.getClass().getName());
 		}
 		else {
-			StringWriter writer = new StringWriter();
-			ex.printStackTrace(new PrintWriter(writer));
-			String message = writer.toString();
-			exitStatus = ExitStatus.FAILED.addExitDescription(message);
+			exitStatus = ExitStatus.FAILED.addExitDescription(ex);
 		}
 
 		return exitStatus;
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/AbstractStep.java b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/AbstractStep.java
index fdf90a2cf..b0ecb8ed2 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/AbstractStep.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/core/step/AbstractStep.java
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.batch.core.step;
 
-import java.io.PrintWriter;
-import java.io.StringWriter;
 import java.util.Date;
 
 import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
@@ -341,10 +339,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractStep implements Step, InitializingBean, BeanNameAw
 			exitStatus = new ExitStatus(ExitCodeMapper.NO_SUCH_JOB, ex.getClass().getName());
 		}
 		else {
-			StringWriter writer = new StringWriter();
-			ex.printStackTrace(new PrintWriter(writer));
-			String message = writer.toString();
-			exitStatus = ExitStatus.FAILED.addExitDescription(message);
+			exitStatus = ExitStatus.FAILED.addExitDescription(ex);
 		}
 
 		return exitStatus;
diff --git a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatusTests.java b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatusTests.java
index 2731976b6..615900d9e 100644
--- a/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatusTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/core/ExitStatusTests.java
@@ -187,6 +187,15 @@ public class ExitStatusTests {
 		assertEquals("Foo", status.getExitDescription());
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testAddExitDescriptionWIthStacktrace() throws Exception {
+		ExitStatus status = ExitStatus.EXECUTING.addExitDescription(new RuntimeException("Foo"));
+		assertTrue(ExitStatus.EXECUTING != status);
+		String description = status.getExitDescription();
+		assertTrue("Wrong description: "+description, description.contains("Foo"));
+		assertTrue("Wrong description: "+description, description.contains("RuntimeException"));
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void testAddExitDescriptionToSameStatus() throws Exception {
 		ExitStatus status = ExitStatus.EXECUTING.addExitDescription("Foo").addExitDescription("Foo");
@@ -196,7 +205,7 @@ public class ExitStatusTests {
 
 	@Test
 	public void testAddEmptyExitDescription() throws Exception {
-		ExitStatus status = ExitStatus.EXECUTING.addExitDescription("Foo").addExitDescription(null);
+		ExitStatus status = ExitStatus.EXECUTING.addExitDescription("Foo").addExitDescription((String)null);
 		assertEquals("Foo", status.getExitDescription());
 	}