diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java
index 76f4fe9467..2408a78bb8 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcher.java
@@ -391,15 +391,16 @@ public class AntPathMatcher implements PathMatcher {
 
 		@Override
 		public int compare(String pattern1, String pattern2) {
-			if (pattern1 == null && pattern2 == null) {
+			if (isNullOrCaptureAllPattern(pattern1) && isNullOrCaptureAllPattern(pattern2)) {
 				return 0;
 			}
-			else if (pattern1 == null) {
+			else if (isNullOrCaptureAllPattern(pattern1)) {
 				return 1;
 			}
-			else if (pattern2 == null) {
+			else if (isNullOrCaptureAllPattern(pattern2)) {
 				return -1;
 			}
+
 			boolean pattern1EqualsPath = pattern1.equals(path);
 			boolean pattern2EqualsPath = pattern2.equals(path);
 			if (pattern1EqualsPath && pattern2EqualsPath) {
@@ -411,6 +412,7 @@ public class AntPathMatcher implements PathMatcher {
 			else if (pattern2EqualsPath) {
 				return 1;
 			}
+
 			int wildCardCount1 = getWildCardCount(pattern1);
 			int wildCardCount2 = getWildCardCount(pattern2);
 
@@ -448,6 +450,10 @@ public class AntPathMatcher implements PathMatcher {
 			return 0;
 		}
 
+		private boolean isNullOrCaptureAllPattern(String pattern) {
+			return pattern == null || "/**".equals(pattern);
+		}
+
 		private int getWildCardCount(String pattern) {
 			if (pattern.endsWith(".*")) {
 				pattern = pattern.substring(0, pattern.length() - 2);
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java
index dba4f3fcd1..6a5e5684c8 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/util/AntPathMatcherTests.java
@@ -437,6 +437,11 @@ public class AntPathMatcherTests {
 		assertEquals(-1, comparator.compare("/hotels/{hotel}/booking", "/hotels/{hotel}/bookings/{booking}"));
 		assertEquals(1, comparator.compare("/hotels/{hotel}/bookings/{booking}", "/hotels/{hotel}/booking"));
 
+		//SPR-10550
+		assertEquals(-1, comparator.compare("/hotels/{hotel}/bookings/{booking}/cutomers/{customer}", "/**"));
+		assertEquals(1, comparator.compare("/**","/hotels/{hotel}/bookings/{booking}/cutomers/{customer}"));
+		assertEquals(0, comparator.compare("/**","/**"));
+
 		assertEquals(-1, comparator.compare("/hotels/{hotel}", "/hotels/*"));
 		assertEquals(1, comparator.compare("/hotels/*", "/hotels/{hotel}"));