diff --git a/spring-webflow/changelog.txt b/spring-webflow/changelog.txt
index 790a796c..f53ffb80 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/changelog.txt
+++ b/spring-webflow/changelog.txt
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ Package org.springframework.webflow.conversation
 * Each SessionBindingConversationManager now uses a unique key to store it's conversation container
   in the session (SWF-304).
 
+Package org.springframework.webflow.core
+* Fixed DefaultExpressionParserFactory to not require OGNL on the classpath if another expression parser
+  is configured (SWF-335).
+
 Package org.springframework.webflow.engine
 * Added invoke(String, Action) method to AbstractFlowBuilder.
 * Added initBuilder() hook method to AbstractFlowBuilder.
diff --git a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/core/DefaultExpressionParserFactory.java b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/core/DefaultExpressionParserFactory.java
index 2630b237..45ed9779 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/core/DefaultExpressionParserFactory.java
+++ b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/core/DefaultExpressionParserFactory.java
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.webflow.core;
 
+import org.springframework.binding.expression.Expression;
 import org.springframework.binding.expression.ExpressionParser;
+import org.springframework.binding.expression.ParserException;
+import org.springframework.binding.expression.SettableExpression;
 
 /**
  * Static helper factory that creates instances of the default expression parser
@@ -26,11 +29,12 @@ import org.springframework.binding.expression.ExpressionParser;
  * the classpath when this class is loaded.
  * 
  * @author Keith Donald
+ * @author Erwin Vervaet
  */
 public final class DefaultExpressionParserFactory {
 
 	/**
-	 * The singleton instance.
+	 * The singleton instance of the default expression parser.
 	 */
 	private static ExpressionParser INSTANCE;
 
@@ -44,6 +48,28 @@ public final class DefaultExpressionParserFactory {
 	 * @return the expression parser
 	 */
 	public static synchronized ExpressionParser getExpressionParser() {
+		// return a wrapper that will lazily load the default expression parser
+		return new ExpressionParser() {
+			public boolean isDelimitedExpression(String expressionString) {
+				return getDefaultExpressionParser().isDelimitedExpression(expressionString);
+			}
+			
+			public Expression parseExpression(String expressionString) throws ParserException {
+				return getDefaultExpressionParser().parseExpression(expressionString);
+			}
+			
+			public SettableExpression parseSettableExpression(String expressionString)
+					throws ParserException, UnsupportedOperationException {
+				return getDefaultExpressionParser().parseSettableExpression(expressionString);
+			}
+		};
+	}
+	
+	/**
+	 * Returns the default expression parser, creating it if necessary.
+	 * @return the default expression parser
+	 */
+	private static synchronized ExpressionParser getDefaultExpressionParser() {
 		if (INSTANCE == null) {
 			INSTANCE = createDefaultExpressionParser();
 		}
@@ -58,12 +84,14 @@ public final class DefaultExpressionParserFactory {
 		try {
 			Class.forName("ognl.Ognl");
 			return new WebFlowOgnlExpressionParser();
-		} catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {
+		}
+		catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {
 			throw new IllegalStateException(
 					"Unable to load the default expression parser: OGNL could not be found in the classpath.  "
 					+ "Please add OGNL 2.x to your classpath or set the default ExpressionParser instance to something that is in the classpath.  "
 					+ "Details: " + e.getMessage());
-		} catch (NoClassDefFoundError e) {
+		}
+		catch (NoClassDefFoundError e) {
 			throw new IllegalStateException(
 					"Unable to construct the default expression parser: ognl.Ognl could not be instantiated.  "
 					+ "Please add OGNL 2.x to your classpath or set the default ExpressionParser instance to something that is in the classpath.  "
diff --git a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/BaseFlowServiceLocator.java b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/BaseFlowServiceLocator.java
index f7873982..bac49042 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/BaseFlowServiceLocator.java
+++ b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/engine/builder/BaseFlowServiceLocator.java
@@ -66,11 +66,16 @@ public class BaseFlowServiceLocator implements FlowServiceLocator {
 	 * objects.
 	 */
 	private ExpressionParser expressionParser = DefaultExpressionParserFactory.getExpressionParser();
+	
+	/**
+	 * The conversion service configured by the user (none by default).
+	 */
+	private ConversionService userConversionService = null;
 
 	/**
 	 * A conversion service that can convert between types.
 	 */
-	private ConversionService conversionService = createConversionService(null);
+	private ConversionService conversionService = createConversionService(userConversionService);
 
 	/**
 	 * A resource loader that can load resources.
@@ -102,15 +107,18 @@ public class BaseFlowServiceLocator implements FlowServiceLocator {
 	public void setExpressionParser(ExpressionParser expressionParser) {
 		Assert.notNull(expressionParser, "The expression parser is required");
 		this.expressionParser = expressionParser;
+		//this has impact on the TextToExpression converter in the conversion service!
+		this.conversionService = createConversionService(userConversionService);
 	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Set the conversion service to use to convert between types; typically
 	 * from string to a rich object type.
 	 */
-	public void setConversionService(ConversionService conversionService) {
-		Assert.notNull(conversionService, "The conversion service is required");
-		this.conversionService = createConversionService(conversionService);
+	public void setConversionService(ConversionService userConversionService) {
+		Assert.notNull(userConversionService, "The conversion service is required");
+		this.userConversionService = userConversionService;
+		this.conversionService = createConversionService(userConversionService);
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/spring-webflow/src/test/java/org/springframework/webflow/core/DefaultExpressionParserFactoryTests.java b/spring-webflow/src/test/java/org/springframework/webflow/core/DefaultExpressionParserFactoryTests.java
index 71562385..6c10e58b 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/src/test/java/org/springframework/webflow/core/DefaultExpressionParserFactoryTests.java
+++ b/spring-webflow/src/test/java/org/springframework/webflow/core/DefaultExpressionParserFactoryTests.java
@@ -27,6 +27,5 @@ public class DefaultExpressionParserFactoryTests extends TestCase {
 	public void testGetDefaultExpressionParser() {
 		ExpressionParser parser = DefaultExpressionParserFactory.getExpressionParser();
 		assertNotNull(parser);
-		assertTrue(parser instanceof WebFlowOgnlExpressionParser);
 	}
 }