diff --git a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/AbstractGenericContextLoader.java b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/AbstractGenericContextLoader.java
index 8cefc456fb..5729a02c58 100644
--- a/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/AbstractGenericContextLoader.java
+++ b/spring-test/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/context/support/AbstractGenericContextLoader.java
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractGenericContextLoader extends AbstractContextLoader
 
 		validateMergedContextConfiguration(mergedConfig);
 
-		GenericApplicationContext context = new GenericApplicationContext();
+		GenericApplicationContext context = createContext();
 
 		ApplicationContext parent = mergedConfig.getParentApplicationContext();
 		if (parent != null) {
@@ -130,6 +130,15 @@ public abstract class AbstractGenericContextLoader extends AbstractContextLoader
 		return context;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Creates instance of application context used by this {@code ContextLoader}
+	 *
+	 * @return new Instance of application context
+	 */
+	protected GenericApplicationContext createContext() {
+		return new GenericApplicationContext();
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Validate the supplied {@link MergedContextConfiguration} with respect to
 	 * what this context loader supports.
@@ -184,7 +193,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractGenericContextLoader extends AbstractContextLoader
 			logger.debug(String.format("Loading ApplicationContext for locations [%s].",
 				StringUtils.arrayToCommaDelimitedString(locations)));
 		}
-		GenericApplicationContext context = new GenericApplicationContext();
+		GenericApplicationContext context = createContext();
 		prepareContext(context);
 		customizeBeanFactory(context.getDefaultListableBeanFactory());
 		createBeanDefinitionReader(context).loadBeanDefinitions(locations);