diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtils.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtils.java
index e2703af89..240d934ff 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtils.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtils.java
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ public class FileUtils {
 					new File(file.getParent()).mkdirs();
 				}
 				file.createNewFile();
+				Assert.state(file.exists(), "Output file must exist");
 			}
 		} catch (IOException ioe) {
 			throw new ItemStreamException(
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemWriter.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemWriter.java
index 292486136..7e5cb47fd 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemWriter.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemWriter.java
@@ -255,8 +255,6 @@ public class StaxEventItemWriter extends ExecutionContextUserSupport implements
 	 */
 	public void open(ExecutionContext executionContext) {
 		
-		Assert.state(resource.exists(), "Output resource must exist");
-		
 		long startAtPosition = 0;
 
 		// if restart data is provided, restart from provided offset
@@ -287,6 +285,7 @@ public class StaxEventItemWriter extends ExecutionContextUserSupport implements
 		try {
 			file = resource.getFile();
 			FileUtils.setUpOutputFile(file, restarted, overwriteOutput);
+			Assert.state(resource.exists(), "Output resource must exist");
 			os = new FileOutputStream(file, true);
 			channel = os.getChannel();
 			setPosition(position);
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtilsTests.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtilsTests.java
index cd8651232..c2f02f1f4 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtilsTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/util/FileUtilsTests.java
@@ -120,6 +120,23 @@ public class FileUtilsTests extends TestCase {
 			file.delete();
 		}
 	}
+	
+	public void testCouldntCreateFile(){
+
+		File file = new File("new file"){
+			public boolean exists() {
+				return false;
+			}
+		};
+		try{
+			FileUtils.setUpOutputFile(file, false, false);
+			fail();
+		}catch(IllegalStateException ex){
+			assertEquals("Output file must exist", ex.getMessage());
+		}finally{
+			file.delete();
+		}
+	}
 
 	protected void setUp() throws Exception {
 		Assert.state(!file.exists());
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemWriterTests.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemWriterTests.java
index 6637f0693..e5d99a5a1 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemWriterTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/xml/StaxEventItemWriterTests.java
@@ -227,6 +227,10 @@ public class StaxEventItemWriterTests extends TestCase {
 	public void testNonExistantResource() throws Exception {
 		Resource doesntExist = new DescriptiveResource("") {
 
+			public File getFile() throws IOException {
+				return new File("does not exist");
+			}
+
 			public boolean exists() {
 				return false;
 			}