diff --git a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/expression/el/ImplicitFlowVariableELResolver.java b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/expression/el/ImplicitFlowVariableELResolver.java
index d6a08cb8..5437cf0e 100644
--- a/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/expression/el/ImplicitFlowVariableELResolver.java
+++ b/spring-webflow/src/main/java/org/springframework/webflow/expression/el/ImplicitFlowVariableELResolver.java
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ public class ImplicitFlowVariableELResolver extends ELResolver {
 			return null;
 		}
 		RequestContext requestContext = RequestContextHolder.getRequestContext();
+		if (requestContext == null) {
+			return null;
+		}
 		if (ImplicitVariables.matches(property)) {
 			context.setPropertyResolved(true);
 			return ImplicitVariables.value(context, requestContext, property).getClass();
@@ -40,6 +43,9 @@ public class ImplicitFlowVariableELResolver extends ELResolver {
 			return null;
 		}
 		RequestContext requestContext = RequestContextHolder.getRequestContext();
+		if (requestContext == null) {
+			return null;
+		}
 		if (ImplicitVariables.matches(property)) {
 			context.setPropertyResolved(true);
 			return ImplicitVariables.value(context, requestContext, property);