diff --git a/spring-web-reactive/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/reactive/config/WebReactiveConfiguration.java b/spring-web-reactive/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/reactive/config/WebReactiveConfiguration.java
index 9f4b0e495a..ee727228a6 100644
--- a/spring-web-reactive/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/reactive/config/WebReactiveConfiguration.java
+++ b/spring-web-reactive/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/reactive/config/WebReactiveConfiguration.java
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ public class WebReactiveConfiguration implements ApplicationContextAware {
 		this.applicationContext = applicationContext;
 	}
 
+	protected ApplicationContext getApplicationContext() {
+		return this.applicationContext;
+	}
+
 
 	@Bean
 	public RequestMappingHandlerMapping requestMappingHandlerMapping() {