diff --git a/org.springframework.beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/annotation/RequiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java b/org.springframework.beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/annotation/RequiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java
index a38041dd71..869f08eefc 100644
--- a/org.springframework.beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/annotation/RequiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java
+++ b/org.springframework.beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/annotation/RequiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2009 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2011 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -164,8 +164,11 @@ public class RequiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor extends InstantiationAwareBeanP
 	 * @return <code>true</code> to skip the bean; <code>false</code> to process it
 	 */
 	protected boolean shouldSkip(ConfigurableListableBeanFactory beanFactory, String beanName) {
-		return (beanFactory != null && beanFactory.containsBeanDefinition(beanName) &&
-				Boolean.TRUE.equals(beanFactory.getBeanDefinition(beanName).getAttribute(SKIP_REQUIRED_CHECK_ATTRIBUTE)));
+		if (beanFactory == null || !beanFactory.containsBeanDefinition(beanName)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		Object value = beanFactory.getBeanDefinition(beanName).getAttribute(SKIP_REQUIRED_CHECK_ATTRIBUTE);
+		return (value != null && (Boolean.TRUE.equals(value) || Boolean.valueOf(value.toString())));
 	}
 
 	/**