diff --git a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/support/RequestPartMethodArgumentResolver.java b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/support/RequestPartMethodArgumentResolver.java
index 3e2c15f27e..70f4deed64 100644
--- a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/support/RequestPartMethodArgumentResolver.java
+++ b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/support/RequestPartMethodArgumentResolver.java
@@ -135,20 +135,22 @@ public class RequestPartMethodArgumentResolver extends AbstractMessageConverterM
 			try {
 				HttpInputMessage inputMessage = new RequestPartServletServerHttpRequest(servletRequest, partName);
 				arg = readWithMessageConverters(inputMessage, parameter, parameter.getParameterType());
-				Annotation[] annotations = parameter.getParameterAnnotations();
-				for (Annotation annot : annotations) {
-					if ("Valid".equals(annot.annotationType().getSimpleName())) {
-						WebDataBinder binder = binderFactory.createBinder(request, arg, partName);
-						Object hints = AnnotationUtils.getValue(annot);
-						binder.validate(hints instanceof Object[] ? (Object[]) hints : new Object[] {hints});
-						BindingResult bindingResult = binder.getBindingResult();
-						if (bindingResult.hasErrors()) {
-							throw new MethodArgumentNotValidException(parameter, bindingResult);
+				if (arg != null) {
+					Annotation[] annotations = parameter.getParameterAnnotations();
+					for (Annotation annot : annotations) {
+						if ("Valid".equals(annot.annotationType().getSimpleName())) {
+							WebDataBinder binder = binderFactory.createBinder(request, arg, partName);
+							Object hints = AnnotationUtils.getValue(annot);
+							binder.validate(hints instanceof Object[] ? (Object[]) hints : new Object[] {hints});
+							BindingResult bindingResult = binder.getBindingResult();
+							if (bindingResult.hasErrors()) {
+								throw new MethodArgumentNotValidException(parameter, bindingResult);
+							}
 						}
 					}
 				}
 			}
-			catch (MissingServletRequestPartException e) {
+			catch (MissingServletRequestPartException ex) {
 				// handled below
 				arg = null;
 			}
@@ -193,26 +195,5 @@ public class RequestPartMethodArgumentResolver extends AbstractMessageConverterM
 		}
 		return false;
 	}
-	
-	/**
-	 * Whether to validate the given {@code @RequestPart} method argument. 
-	 * The default implementation looks for {@code @javax.validation.Valid}.
-	 * @param argument the resolved argument value
-	 * @param parameter the method argument
-	 */
-	protected boolean isValidationApplicable(Object argument, MethodParameter parameter) {
-		if (argument == null) {
-			return false;
-		}
-		else {
-			Annotation[] annotations = parameter.getParameterAnnotations();
-			for (Annotation annot : annotations) {
-				if ("Valid".equals(annot.annotationType().getSimpleName())) {
-					return true;
-				}
-			}
-			return false;
-		}
-	}
 
 }
diff --git a/org.springframework.web/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/method/annotation/support/ModelAttributeMethodProcessorTests.java b/org.springframework.web/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/method/annotation/support/ModelAttributeMethodProcessorTests.java
index ad530bdcd1..91eddbc95e 100644
--- a/org.springframework.web/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/method/annotation/support/ModelAttributeMethodProcessorTests.java
+++ b/org.springframework.web/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/method/annotation/support/ModelAttributeMethodProcessorTests.java
@@ -16,29 +16,13 @@
 
 package org.springframework.web.method.annotation.support;
 
-import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.CONSTRUCTOR;
-import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.FIELD;
-import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.METHOD;
-import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.PARAMETER;
-import static java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME;
-import static org.easymock.EasyMock.anyObject;
-import static org.easymock.EasyMock.createMock;
-import static org.easymock.EasyMock.eq;
-import static org.easymock.EasyMock.expect;
-import static org.easymock.EasyMock.notNull;
-import static org.easymock.EasyMock.replay;
-import static org.easymock.EasyMock.verify;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertSame;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
-
 import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 import java.lang.reflect.Method;
 
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
+
 import org.springframework.beans.TestBean;
 import org.springframework.core.MethodParameter;
 import org.springframework.mock.web.MockHttpServletRequest;
@@ -54,6 +38,11 @@ import org.springframework.web.context.request.ServletWebRequest;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.WebRequest;
 import org.springframework.web.method.support.ModelAndViewContainer;
 
+import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.*;
+import static java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy.*;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.*;
+import static org.junit.Assert.*;
+
 /**
  * Test fixture with {@link ModelAttributeMethodProcessor}.
  * 
@@ -254,6 +243,10 @@ public class ModelAttributeMethodProcessorTests {
 		public void validate() {
 			validateInvoked = true;
 		}
+
+		public void validate(Object... validationHints) {
+			validateInvoked = true;
+		}
 	}
 
 	@Target({ METHOD, FIELD, CONSTRUCTOR, PARAMETER })