diff --git a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/context/ExternalContextHolder.java b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/context/ExternalContextHolder.java
index 3c51e228..51af9f55 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/context/ExternalContextHolder.java
+++ b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/context/ExternalContextHolder.java
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ public final class ExternalContextHolder {
 
 	/**
 	 * Return the ExternalContext associated with the current thread, if any.
-	 * @return the current ExternalContext, or <code>null</code> if none
+	 * @return the current ExternalContext
+	 * @throws IllegalStateException if no ExternalContext is bound to this thread 
 	 */
 	public static ExternalContext getExternalContext() {
 		Assert.state(externalContextHolder.get() != null, "No external context is bound to this thread");