diff --git a/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/events/IntegrationEvent.java b/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/events/IntegrationEvent.java
index 379c843261..1794432d12 100644
--- a/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/events/IntegrationEvent.java
+++ b/spring-integration-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/integration/events/IntegrationEvent.java
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ public abstract class IntegrationEvent extends ApplicationEvent {
 		this.cause = cause;
 	}
 
+	@Nullable
 	public Throwable getCause() {
 		return this.cause;
 	}