diff --git a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/model/registry/DefaultFlowModelHolder.java b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/model/registry/DefaultFlowModelHolder.java
index 61f5bbed..37f80bd7 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/model/registry/DefaultFlowModelHolder.java
+++ b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/model/registry/DefaultFlowModelHolder.java
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.webflow.engine.model.registry;
 
-import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
-import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
 import org.springframework.core.io.Resource;
 import org.springframework.webflow.engine.model.FlowModel;
 import org.springframework.webflow.engine.model.builder.FlowModelBuilder;
@@ -37,8 +35,6 @@ import org.springframework.webflow.engine.model.builder.FlowModelBuilderExceptio
  */
 public class DefaultFlowModelHolder implements FlowModelHolder {
 
-	private static final Log logger = LogFactory.getLog(DefaultFlowModelHolder.class);
-
 	/**
 	 * The flow model assembled by this assembler.
 	 */
@@ -54,12 +50,6 @@ public class DefaultFlowModelHolder implements FlowModelHolder {
 	 */
 	private FlowModelBuilder flowModelBuilder;
 
-	/**
-	 * A last modified date for the backing flow definition resource, used to support automatic reassembly on resource
-	 * change.
-	 */
-	private long lastModified;
-
 	/**
 	 * Creates a new refreshable flow model holder that uses the configured assembler (GOF director) to drive flow
 	 * assembly, on initial use and on any resource change or refresh.
diff --git a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/test/execution/AbstractExternalizedFlowExecutionTests.java b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/test/execution/AbstractExternalizedFlowExecutionTests.java
index b0fa4b49..3507a4b1 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/test/execution/AbstractExternalizedFlowExecutionTests.java
+++ b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/test/execution/AbstractExternalizedFlowExecutionTests.java
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ public abstract class AbstractExternalizedFlowExecutionTests extends AbstractFlo
 	/**
 	 * Constructs an externalized flow execution test with given name.
 	 * @param name the name of the test
-	 * @since 1.0.2
 	 */
 	public AbstractExternalizedFlowExecutionTests(String name) {
 		super(name);
@@ -121,6 +120,14 @@ public abstract class AbstractExternalizedFlowExecutionTests extends AbstractFlo
 				new StaticFlowExecutionListenerLoader(executionListeners));
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Returns the factory used to create pointers to externalized flow definition resources.
+	 * @return the resource factory
+	 */
+	protected FlowDefinitionResourceFactory getResourceFactory() {
+		return resourceFactory;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns the flow definition being tested.
 	 */
@@ -142,7 +149,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractExternalizedFlowExecutionTests extends AbstractFlo
 	 * @return the built flow definition, ready for execution
 	 */
 	protected final Flow buildFlow() {
-		FlowDefinitionResource resource = getResource(resourceFactory);
+		FlowDefinitionResource resource = getResource(getResourceFactory());
 		MockFlowBuilderContext builderContext = new MockFlowBuilderContext(resource.getId(), resource.getAttributes());
 		configureFlowBuilderContext(builderContext);
 		FlowBuilder builder = createFlowBuilder(resource);
diff --git a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/test/execution/AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests.java b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/test/execution/AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests.java
index 9499226d..d4ce7292 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/test/execution/AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests.java
+++ b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/test/execution/AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package org.springframework.webflow.test.execution;
 
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.config.ConfigurableBeanFactory;
 import org.springframework.webflow.config.FlowDefinitionResource;
+import org.springframework.webflow.config.FlowDefinitionResourceFactory;
 import org.springframework.webflow.engine.builder.FlowBuilder;
 import org.springframework.webflow.engine.builder.model.FlowModelFlowBuilder;
 import org.springframework.webflow.engine.model.builder.FlowModelBuilder;
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ import org.springframework.webflow.engine.model.registry.FlowModelRegistryImpl;
  */
 public abstract class AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests extends AbstractExternalizedFlowExecutionTests {
 
-	private FlowModelRegistry flowModelRegistry;
+	private FlowModelRegistry flowModelRegistry = new FlowModelRegistryImpl();
 
 	/**
 	 * Constructs a default XML flow execution test.
@@ -65,7 +66,6 @@ public abstract class AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests extends AbstractExternalized
 	 */
 	public AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests() {
 		super();
-		flowModelRegistry = new FlowModelRegistryImpl();
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ public abstract class AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests extends AbstractExternalized
 	 */
 	public AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests(String name) {
 		super(name);
-		flowModelRegistry = new FlowModelRegistryImpl();
 	}
 
-	protected FlowBuilder createFlowBuilder(FlowDefinitionResource resource) {
+	protected final FlowBuilder createFlowBuilder(FlowDefinitionResource resource) {
+		registerDependentFlowModels();
 		FlowModelBuilder modelBuilder = new XmlFlowModelBuilder(resource.getPath(), flowModelRegistry);
 		FlowModelHolder modelHolder = new DefaultFlowModelHolder(modelBuilder, resource.getId());
 		flowModelRegistry.registerFlowModel(modelHolder);
@@ -88,6 +88,17 @@ public abstract class AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests extends AbstractExternalized
 		};
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Template method subclasses may override to return pointers to "flow model resources" needed to build the
+	 * definition of the flow being tested. Typically overridden when the flow being tested extends from another flow.
+	 * Default returns null, assuming no inheritance.
+	 * @param resourceFactory the resource factory
+	 * @return the flow definition model resources
+	 */
+	protected FlowDefinitionResource[] getModelResources(FlowDefinitionResourceFactory resourceFactory) {
+		return null;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Template method subclasses may override to register mock implementations of services used locally by the flow
 	 * being tested. By default, this method does nothing.
@@ -96,4 +107,18 @@ public abstract class AbstractXmlFlowExecutionTests extends AbstractExternalized
 	 */
 	protected void registerMockFlowBeans(ConfigurableBeanFactory flowBeanFactory) {
 	}
+
+	// internal helpers
+
+	private void registerDependentFlowModels() {
+		FlowDefinitionResource[] modelResources = getModelResources(getResourceFactory());
+		if (modelResources != null) {
+			for (int i = 0; i < modelResources.length; i++) {
+				FlowDefinitionResource modelResource = modelResources[i];
+				FlowModelBuilder modelBuilder = new XmlFlowModelBuilder(modelResource.getPath(), flowModelRegistry);
+				flowModelRegistry.registerFlowModel(new DefaultFlowModelHolder(modelBuilder, modelResource.getId()));
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file